Zindagi ko bahut pyar humne diya, Maut se bhi mohabbat nibhayenge hum" he sang. You bet he is doing just that, keeping everyone up there spellbound with his songs of life - and death, or in stitches with his comic antics.

A couple of years ago, he declared he was planning to return to Khandwa, his hometown. No one expected him to keep his word. The way he did - his last journey.

Everyone knows Kishore Kumar the singer... But Kishore, the actor and filmmaker, is less known. Born 75 years ago in a family where there were no singers, Kishore -- whose real name was Abhas Kumar Ganguly -- loved singing and was particularly inspired by K.L. Saigal. In fact, his early songs were imitations of Saigal. If Kishore had his way, he would have sung all his life. But then, the acting assignments happened. He hated every bit of it. But had no choice than face the camera.

Only because we really dont know how to respect our heroes ! The man, the voice, the legend whom we all love so much. Have so many memories! So many moments of life would have been so difficult if he wasnt with us. Something for every occasion, for every one. At many times, when life seems impossible, I close my eyes and let his voice do the rest. They say, its magic. I feel its pure bliss. And it would be the same for generations to come. Can you imagine a world without the voice of Kishore Kumar! Even if am the king there, wouldnt like to live there.

New Delhi -- As the songs of Farhan Akhtar's upcoming "Don" turn into listeners' favourite they bring to mind Kishore Kumar's zestful singing of the numbers, including the inimitable "Khaike paan Banaraswala", from the original 1978 film.

The versatile singer-actor, who passed away on this day 19 years ago, sung the "Khaike paan Banaraswala" song complete with his imitation of a man talking with his mouth full of betel juice - without it sounding the least bit offensive.

Kishore Kumar was born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly on the 4th of August, 1929, in a middle class family in Khandwa. His father Kunjalal Ganguly, a lawyer by profession, was a modest man. At the age of 18, Kishore came to Bombay where elder brother Ashok Kumar was a major star. Abhas Kumar changed his name to Kishore Kumar and started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother worked. He got his first opportunity as a singer in Bombay Talkies Ziddi (1948) where he sang the song Marne ki Duayen Kyon Mangu for Dev Anand.