Apart from films he acted on quite a few professional theatres. He received the President's award for his performance in the film Dadathakur in 1966. Sonar Khancha and Stree etc.) characters, including cameo (e.g. Joradighir Choudhuri Paribaar, Dui Purush and Kalankita Nayak) and intense (e.g. Haat Baralei Bandhu, Basanta Bilaap, Mouchak and Personal Assistant), negative (e.g. Tarun Kumar's acting skill may well be underrated by the tall shadow of his elder brother, Uttam Kumar but probably he was one of the finest character actors ever worked in Bengali film industry, who performed with equal ease in all types of roles irrespective of comic (e.g.
However, in most Uttam Kumar starred films, he either played the role of a friend in Saptapadi, Chhadmabesi, Jeeban Mrityu, Deya Neya to name a few or that of an associate or well-wisher in films like Raja Saja, Dhanyi Meye, Mon Niye, Sanyasi Raja, Kayahiner Kahini and Brajabuli. In Se Chupi Chupi Aase and Sonar Harin, he played the antagonist. In Jhinder Bandi, he played the rival, Udit, the brother of Shankar played by Uttam Kumar. Kumar acted in over 500 films since making his debut with Hrod in 1954. His grandson Sourav Banerjee is also an actor. Tarun Kumar was also known by his nick name 'Buro' among film industry people. In 1962, he married fellow actress Subrata Chattopadhyay ( 1940 - 2004 ) and had a daughter.
In his professional life, he used to work in Maclyod Company, Metro Cinema and then at Burn Company for few days. Although he joined Ashutosh College, but he could not continue his studies. Tarun Kumar passed Matriculation from South Suburban School. He was the youngest brother of actor Uttam Kumar. Tarun Kumar was born on 24 February 1931 in Kolkata.