Gulshan Kumar’s name still alive because of his deeds: Daughter

By Sugandha Rawal

Noida, Nov 16 (IANS) Gulshan Kumar was working towards changing the face of the Indian music business when he was shot dead outside a temple in 1997. His daughter and singer Tulsi Kumar says her father lived a short life, but he is still alive in the memories of people because of his work and deeds.

"He was a person who did a lot for others. He established his name by working for people. I am not saying that because he came up with the brand T-Series, but he has a very big hand in a lot of people's lives, because he was a man with a very humble heart," Tulsi told IANS in a sit-down interview here.

"His name is still alive because of the work and deeds he has done... his humble, helpful nature and his thinking. We still have a 'langar' in his name in Vaishno Devi that he started almost 25-30 years ago. No one can forget him because of his deeds."

Known for helping the music industry boom in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Gulshan Kumar was murdered in 1997. His music label T-Series became a name to reckon with in the Indian music industry.

Bollywood's 'Khiladi' Akshay Kumar will be bringing the life of Gulshan Kumar on the big screen via a biopic "Mogul: The Gulshan Kumar Story", to be directed by Subhash Kapoor of "Jolly L.L.B." fame.

Tulsi says the whole family is associated with the project and is reliving their memories with it.

"It will be releasing next year. It's in the works. It will be a film that everyone would like to watch because it is a man's journey, one who lived for other people, and at the same time established such a big name in such a short time."

Will she feature in the film?

"I won't be featuring in the film, but definitely our whole family is involved because it's connected with papa. The makers are taking information from me, my mother, so everybody who is a part of his life is going to be part of the film," said Tulsi, who has sung a string of popular numbers like "Mere humsafar" and "Soch na sake".

The biopic will, inevitably, also focus on how his life ended.

For many, it would bring back a lot of troublesome memories. But Tulsi is not fretting over it.

"It will be a very beautiful film that will focus on his rise. The film will be shown with a very positive outlook. Looking at what I know as of now, I don't think the makers will dramatise. It is going to be about the positive life of a man who went from rags to riches," said Tulsi with a smile.

Tulsi, who is taking her late father's legacy forward and announced Gulshan Kumar Film and Television Institute of India (GKFTII) earlier this month, will soon be starting a new chapter of motherhood in her life.

The singer is expecting the baby in January next year, and is still rejoicing over the news.

"I am taking it a little slow. I am taking up activities where I don't have to be too active. But I don't plan to take any break as such," added the singer, who is married to Hitesh Ralhan.

On the work front, she wants to her focus on the academy and is happy with the response that she got for the single "Ik yaad purani".

"I have worked on a couple of more recreations which will be released soon," she added.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)