The world of Bollywood in the 90s saw many legendary singers like Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu, and Alka Yagnik rise to fame. But behind the scenes, there was a man who revolutionized the music industry with his unique vision and unshakeable determination—Gulshan Kumar. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a music mogul is inspiring yet tragic, as his life came to an abrupt and brutal end.
Early Struggles: From Juice Seller to Tape Recorder Repairman
Born on 5 May 1956, in Delhi, Gulshan Kumar’s early life was far from glamorous. His family wasn’t wealthy, and as a child, he helped his father run a small juice shop. Life was tough, but young Gulshan was always a hustler, finding ways to make ends meet. Over time, he started working on something different—repairing audio cassettes and tape recorders, which was gaining popularity at the time.
The Birth of a Music Business
While repairing cassettes, Gulshan noticed the growing demand for affordable music. This sparked an idea—why not create his cassettes? He started recording devotional bhajans at religious gatherings and selling the cassettes at a much cheaper rate compared to the market price. While cassettes usually cost Rs 30, Gulshan sold his for Rs 10. His business began to boom, and the public loved it.
T-Series and the Aashiqui Phenomenon
After his success in cassette sales, Gulshan Kumar founded Super Cassettes Industries, which later became T-Series in 1993. While his early ventures in Bollywood with films like “Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka” (1989) garnered attention, it was the music of “Aashiqui” (1990) that changed everything. The soundtrack of “Aashiqui” became an instant hit, selling millions of copies, and catapulting T-Series into the big league of the music industry.
A Generous Spirit Meets Underworld Threats
As his music empire grew, so did Gulshan Kumar’s stature in society. By the mid-90s, he was one of Bollywood’s biggest names and one of the highest taxpayers in India. However, this success also brought unwanted attention from the underworld, particularly Abu Salem. Salem demanded Rs 5 lakh from Gulshan, but the generous businessman refused, saying he would rather donate that money to the Vaishno Devi temple. This defiance infuriated Abu Salem, and the consequences were deadly.
The Shocking Murder in Broad Daylight
On August 12, 1997, tragedy struck. As Gulshan Kumar left the Mahadev temple after his daily prayers, he was ambushed and shot multiple times in broad daylight. His driver tried valiantly to protect him but was also killed in the attack. Gulshan Kumar succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital. The mastermind behind this horrifying attack was shooter Raja, allegedly sent by Abu Salem.
