Leena Chandavarkar Recalls Rejecting Kishore Kumar’s Marriage Proposal, Shares Memories of His Personal Life

June 29, 2026

Mumbai: Veteran actress Leena Chandavarkar has recalled an interesting moment from her first meeting with legendary singer-actor Kishore Kumar, revealing that he had unexpectedly proposed marriage to her during their initial interaction.

The actress shared the anecdote on the upcoming episode of the music reality show Indian Idol, where she appeared alongside her son Sumit Kumar. During a conversation with host Aditya Narayan, Leena spoke about her early encounters with Kishore Kumar and his light-hearted yet surprising proposal.

“He Suddenly Asked If I Would Marry”

Leena said she was surprised when Kishore Kumar casually asked if she would like to get married in the future. When she replied positively, he jokingly responded with a direct proposal.

She added that she was taken aback and playfully questioned him about his previous marriages, which included his relationships with Madhubala and Yogita Bali, leading her to initially reject the proposal in a light-hearted manner.

Kishore Kumar Responded with Humor

According to Leena, Kishore Kumar handled the moment with humour and immediately said, “accha baba, cancel kar do,” turning the situation into laughter without any awkwardness.

How They First Met

Leena also shared that their first interaction happened when Kishore Kumar’s driver reportedly came to her house with a message asking her to contact him. She later visited his bungalow, where he narrated several film ideas and eventually introduced her to the project Pyar Ajnabi Hai. She said she was going through a difficult phase in her life at the time, and meeting him brought a positive change in her outlook.

Kishore Kumar’s Marriages

Kishore Kumar, one of India’s most iconic playback singers and actors, had a widely discussed personal life. He was first married to Ruma Guha Thakurta in 1951, with whom he had a son, Amit Kumar.

He later married legendary actress Madhubala in 1960. The two remained together until her death in 1969 after a prolonged illness.

In 1976, he married actress Yogita Bali, but the marriage ended in separation within two years.

Finally, in 1980, Kishore Kumar married Leena Chandavarkar, and the couple remained together until his death in 1987. They have a son, Sumit Kumar.

The actress’s recollection offers a nostalgic glimpse into the personal life of one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated personalities.