Kishore Kumar refused to give bribe to get National Award nomination, recalls son Amit: ‘The remake of his film in Tamil won the award'

Indian Express

28-05-2025

Actor, singer, and filmmaker Kishore Kumar's legacy in Hindi cinema is unparalleled. Despite leaving an indelible mark that inspired generations, the all-rounder of Hindi cinema never received a National Award. In a recent interaction, his son Amit Kumar spoke about an incident that took place after the release of Kishore Kumar's film Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein, when the legendary artist was asked for a bribe in exchange for a National Award nomination. What followed reflected Kishore Kumar's strong principles.
In a recent conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Amit admitted that there was buzz around Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein being considered for a National Award. 'Yes, the film was recommended for National Awards.' When asked whether Kishore Kumar was asked for a bribe just to get nominated, Amit shared, 'Somebody from the Ministry in Delhi had called my father. At that time, films like Haqeeqat, Dosti and Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein were being considered. They told my father, 'If you give something then we can get you nominated.' My father was like, 'Why are you after my life? My film is a hit.''
Amit revealed that the film ran for 23 weeks at Super Cinema (a theatre) in Mumbai and also celebrated a silver jubilee in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. However, when the box office collections began to dip slightly after the 23rd week, the film's distributor, Hiranandani, urged Kishore Kumar to consider giving in to the bribe demand, arguing that a nomination would generate more buzz. But the actor-filmmaker firmly refused. Recalling his father's reaction, Amit said, 'He said, 'Chalo hatao. This film gave me a lot of trouble. It already took 4 years to make this.'' He added that the film was a success primarily due to strong word of mouth.
Amit also revealed the biggest irony — Kishore Kumar had sold the rights of the film, and it was later remade in Tamil as Ramu, starring Gemini Ganesan. That version went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein was directed, written, and produced by Kishore Kumar. He also played the lead role in the film. The movie starred veteran actress Supriya Devi and a young Amit Kumar. It was an adaptation of the American film The Proud Rebel.