biography of dilip kumar

Dilip Kumar Age, Death, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Dilip Kumar

Dilip Kumar smoking

Dilip Kumar’s childhood photo

• His father was a landlord and fruit merchant and also owned orchards in Deolali (in Maharashtra, India) and Peshawar (in Pakistan). In the late 1930s, his family moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) from Peshawar, Pakistan. In Bombay, Dilip Kumar was the neighbour of the legendary Indian actor Raj Kapoor . In an interview, he was asked how much did he miss Peshawar? He replied,

I remember a lot. With age, this trend has increased even more. I miss my grandmother. Reminds me of childhood. I miss playing my football.”

• In 1940, when Dilip Kumar was a teenager, he left his home and moved to Pune, Maharashtra, after an altercation with his father. There, he started a dry fruit shop and a sandwich stall at an army club in Pune, Maharashtra.
• After almost three years, the legendary Indian actress Devika Rani and her husband Himanshu Rai spotted Dilip Kumar in a military canteen. They liked him and offered him the lead role in the Hindi film ‘Jwar Bhata’ (1944). In an interview, he shared how he developed an interest in acting. He said,

Yes, I used to watch movies, but they used to be English films. When I got a chance to work in Hindi films, I had seen only a few Hindi films. In those days I was crazy about English films. He used to watch these films hiding from his family members. Later he came to know about this. He was also worried about my passion for films. When I decided to become an actor in Hindi films, I was worried how to do something I don’t know. But then Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies told me that just as you are learning to sell fruits, you will also learn acting.” Dilip Kumar and Devika Rani

• Before making his debut in the Hindi films, at the suggestion of Devika, he changed his name from Mohammed Yusuf Khan to Dilip Kumar. During an interview, Dilip Kumar shared why he had changed his name. He said,

Haqeeqat bataun? Pitayi ke darr se maine yeh naam rakha (Should I tell you honestly? It was because I was scared of beatings that I used this name).”

Dilip Kumar in Jugnu

Raj Kapoor, Nargis, and Dilip Kumar on the sets of Andaz

• In the 1950s, he appeared in many super-hit Hindi films like ‘Jogan’ (1950), ‘Babul’ (1950), ‘Hulchul’ (1951), ‘Shikast’ (1953), and ‘Uran Khatola’ (1955).

Dilip Kumar with Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

Dilip Kumar in Devdas

I had been playing characters who were ill-fated and a morbid outlook had seized me as a result of my extreme involvement and my living the character beyond the working hour.”

• His first technicolour film was ‘Aan’ (1952) which was released worldwide and premiered in London.

Dilip Kumar with his Filmfare Award

• In 1951, while shooting for the Hindi film ‘Tarana’ Dilip Kumar fell in love with his co-star Madhubala . After a courtship of almost seven years followed by an engagement, troubles started arising in their relationship due to the court case of the Hindi film ‘Naya Daur’ in 1957. Their last film together was the epic Hindi film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960). In an interview, while talking about Madhubala, he said,

I must admit that I was attracted to her (Madhubala) both as a fine co-star and as a person who had some of the attributes I hoped to find in a woman at that age and time…She, as I said earlier, was very sprightly and vivacious and, as such, she could draw me out of my shyness and reticence effortlessly.”

Dilip Kumar in Amar (1954)

• Kumar portrayed the role of Prince Salim in K. Asif’s epic historical film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960). The film remained the 2nd highest-grossing film till 2008 in the history of Hindi films. The film was shot in black & white, and some scenes of the film were shot in colour. In 2004, after almost 44 years of its original release, the film was fully colourised and was re-released in theatres.

• In the Hindi film ‘Gunga Jamuna’ (1961), the role of his younger brother was played by his real brother Nasir Khan. The duo appeared together in another Hindi film ‘Bairaag’ (1976).
• In 1962, he was offered a role in the British film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ by the British director David Lean, which he declined.
• He got married to the Indian actress Saira Banu in 1966 who was almost half of his age. While he was married to Saira, he fell in love with a girl from Pakistan Asma and secretly got married to her in 1980. His marriage with Asma did not last long, and he returned to his first wife, Saira. During an interview, he talked about his marriage to Saira. He said,

When I married Saira she was young, even younger than my sisters. I wondered how she would cope with establishing the right vibes with my brothers and sisters, especially since she belonged to a small family. We siblings were a dozen. But she not only respected and loved them as a devoted sister-in-law, but also keeps me close to all of them.” A collage of Dilip Kumar’s wedding photographs

Gopi (1970)

Dilip Kumar in Karma

Dilip Kumar With Ashok Kumar

• In 1993, during the riots in Maharashtra (caused by the demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya), he made his home as a command centre for the relief work. He was involved in various social activities, and he was one of the members who conceptualised Jogger’s Park in Bandra, Mumbai.

Dilip Kumar campaigning for the Congress party

Dilip Kumar filing his nomination papers

Dilip Kumar (left), Raj Kapoor (centre), and Dev Anand (right)

• Dilip Kumar loved cooking, and the best dish he used to make was chicken soup. In an interview, the Indian politician Priya Dutt said,

Dad had a very special relationship with Dilip Uncle. Dilip uncle was always an elder brother and advisor to dad. Whenever father had problems in his life and was going through any kind of an upheaval, he would directly walk all the way up to Dilip uncle’s house. He would go up to him and say that I want to eat with you. Dilipsaab himself used to cook a dish then – Chicken Soup. They used to sit over dinner and discuss. They were very important moments to my father. Dad was always giving advice to others as an elder, but he never had someone older than him to handhold him when he needed.”

• Kumar was the idol of the veteran Indian actor Dharmendra . While talking about Dilip in an interview, Dharmendra said,

I used to go and meet him and at times I would want to leave early because I wanted to have my regular (alcohol). Dilipsaab would understand and would ask for alcohol to be served too. But I loved his Chicken soup and what Narmada (his cook) cooked and he would give me advice on my career as well.”

He further added,

Imagine our talks and with so much love he gave me a sweater to wear. It used to get nippy those days in 60s so I told him ‘I will not return it, can I take it?’ He happily gave it to me with a lot of love. Then we were shooting one day; he would tell me wear my suit and I told Saira ‘I have got my own, will wear my own cause his are a little loose’ and I couldn’t say no to him then I reminded him, ‘Dilip sahib I took your sweater’ since nobody forgets if they have bought something nice so he said, ‘Yea I got 2 from Paris, one Nasir took and the other you took.” Dilip Kumar and Dharmendra

• Once, Congress parliamentarian Lilavati Munshi raised the issue of Dilip Kumar’s hairstyle while he was in the Rajya Sabha. She said,

It had “adverse effects” on Indian youths.”

Dilip Kumar with Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Dilip Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

• In 2008, a Hindi documentary ‘Abhinay Samrat Ki Dastan’ was released on the life of Kumar.

Dilip Kumar’s Twitter account

• In an interview, while talking about the new age actors, Dilip Kumar said,

Yes, most of today’s actors are thinking that what is kept in literature. I have to say that literature works to keep your sensibilities alive. We have become friends with machines as if we too have become machines. I have read a lot of writers like Mir, Ghalib, Tagore, Iqbal, Faiz, Josh, Premchand, Sharatchand and Manto. These are the writers everyone should read. All the great writers of the world should read. But very few actors of today read literature. This round is looking a little too fast, but it should be considered whether this fast race will be successful in taking a person somewhere.”

Dilip Kumar featured on the Filmfare magazine’s cover

• He was well-versed in speaking various languages including Pashto, Hindko, Urdu, Hindi, and English.
• Dilip Kumar was very close to the famous Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan . In an interview, Dilip’s wife Saira said that Shah Rukh Khan was their mooh-bola-beta. She further said,

Dilip saab gave the ceremonial clap (Dil Aashna Hai). I have always said that if we had a son, he might have looked like Shah Rukh. Both he and saab are a lot alike and have similar hair, which is why I like to run my fingers through Shah Rukh Khan when we meet. This time (during one of their earlier meetings) he asked me, ‘Aaj aap mere baalon ko haath nahin laga rahi hain?’ I was happy to.” Dilip Kumar with Shah Rukh Khan and Saira Banu

• Once, Dilip Kumar said that he was one of the poorest actors in India, he further said,

My costumes and everyday clothes are stitched by the tailor on Pali Naka who had been making my cloths ever since I started living in Bandra. I have my own barber who visit my house once in a month.”

• In the Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Mumbai, an auditorium has been named after him with the name ‘Dilip Kumar Auditorium.’ In an interview, the college officials said,

The College hall has been named after the alumnus and thespian actor Dilip Kumar. This center is amphitheater for budding talents. Having a proper stage with a green room facility, the college hall has a 500 plus seating capacity. Apart from being the venue for formal functions, the hall is also used for events like drama competitions, literary events, Kavi-Sammelan, Mehfil and allied artistic pursuits.”

• Dilip and Saira did not have any child of their own. During an interview, while talking about it Dilip said,

It would have been great if we had our own kids. But we have no regrets. We are both submissive to the will of God. As for incompleteness, I must tell you that neither Saira nor I can complain of a lack of contentment. It is enough for us that we have our families to share our happiness and our small dismays with. Mine is a large family, with so many nieces and nephews and their families of growing kids speaking the language of today, which is as bewildering as it is befitting the times they are living in. Saira’s is a small family comprising her brother Sultan and his kids and grandchildren. We feel we are lucky to be there for them when they need us.”

• In an interview, while talking about Saira Banu , Kumar said,

I wish to live for the happiness of my wife. I knew and know even more strongly now that she loves me as no one, other than my mother, has. I wish to live for her love and devotion. It is so lovely to wake up and see the preparations she has done to make each day worth living for. In fact, our common wish now is to care for, and make, each other happy. You have to be truly lucky to be in my place.”

• In 2013, he visited Masjid al-Haram (The Great Mosque of Mecca), Saudi Arabia, along with his wife and a few relatives. In an interview, Kumar said,

Allah has been kind that he’s given me the strength to go on Umrah (pilgrimage) with Saira, Asif, Faisal… My doctor friends, few relatives are also accompanying me to Umrah. Keep me in your prayers.”

• As he was getting older, he suffered from various age-related ailments. Later, he was detected with prostate cancer which had spread in the other organs of his body. After a prolonged illness, he passed away on 7 July 2021 in Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, and on his demise, one of the doctors involved in his treatment said,

He had water in pleural cavity and suffered kidney failure. He required blood transfusion multiple times. We carried out the last transfusion but it did not help.”

• On 7 July 2021, he was wrapped in a tricolour flag and with the full state honour, he was buried at the Juhu Qabrastan in Santacruz, Mumbai. Many Indian actors like Amitabh Bachchan , Shah Rukh Khan , Ranbir Kapoor , and Dharmendra were present at his last rites.
• On his demise, many Indian and Pakistani celebrities shared their condolences on Twitter. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi tweeted,

Dilip Kumar Ji will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP.”

• Even the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was disheartened to know about Dilip’s demise. He tweeted,

Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar’s passing. I can never forget his generosity in giving his time to help raise funds for SKMTH when project launched. This is the most difficult time – to raise first 10% of the funds & his appearance in Pak & London helped raise huge amounts. Apart from this, for my generation Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor.”

• The legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan tweeted,

An institution has gone… Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be ‘before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar’ … My duas for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss. Deeply saddened.”

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Dilip Kumar

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Dilip Kumar (born December 11, 1922, Peshawar , British India [now in Pakistan]—died July 7, 2021, Mumbai , India) was one of the legendary actors of Bollywood . With his low-key , naturalistic acting style, he excelled in a wide range of roles. In addition to his acting, he was noted for his good looks, deep voice, and fine accent.

Kumar was born into a Pashtun family of 12 children. He moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) and began working in a British army canteen, where he was noticed by Devika Rani, a leading actress of the time, and her husband, Himanshu Rai, who hired him to act for the Bombay Talkies, a film company they owned. Kumar made his acting debut with the film Jwar bhata (1944), but it was not until a few years later that he had a box-office hit, with the film Jugnu (1947). In 1949 he costarred with Raj Kapoor in Mehboob Khan’s film Andaz (“A Matter of Style”), which catapulted him to stardom.

As Kumar’s career progressed, he played a string of ill-fated characters in films such as Deedar (1951; “Meeting”), Daag (1952)—for which he received the first of eight Filmfare Awards for best actor—and Devdas (1955). His screen persona acquired mournful overtones, and he was known as the “king of tragedy.” Eventually, he opted for a brighter image, playing swashbuckling heroes in such films as Aan (1953; “Pride”), Azaad (1955; “Free”), Insaniyat (1955; “Humane”), and Kohinoor (1960). In the blockbuster Mughal-e-Azam (1960), set in the 16th century, he played Crown Prince Salim, son of the great Mughal emperor Akbar . Kumar’s other memorable films included Bimal Roy’s Madhumati (1958), Nitin Bose’s Gunga Jumna (1961), and Tapan Sinha’s Sagina (1974).

After an extended hiatus , Kumar made a comeback with Manoj Kumar’s film Kranti (1981; “Revolution”). Thereafter he played key roles in Subhash Ghai’s Vidhaata (1982), Karma (1986), and Saudagar (1991; “Merchant”). He was also noted for his performance in Ramesh Sippy’s Shakti (1982; “Strength”). Kumar’s last film was the family drama Qila (1998; “Fort”).

In 1994 Kumar received a Filmfare Award for lifetime achievement. The following year he was given the Dadasaheb Phalke award, India’s highest award for cinematic excellence. In 1998 he was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, becoming the second Indian (after Morarji Desai ) to receive the honour. That same year he announced his intention to retire from acting. From 2000 to 2006 he served as a member of the Rajya Sabha , the upper chamber of India’s bicameral parliament.

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Dilip Kumar, Film Star Who Brought Realism to Bollywood, Dies at 98

One of India’s earliest Method actors, he was the last survivor of a triumvirate of actors who ruled Hindi cinema in the 1950s and ’60s.

By Baradwaj Rangan

Dilip Kumar, the last of a triumvirate of actors who ruled Hindi cinema in the 1950s and ’60s, died on Wednesday in Mumbai, India. He was 98.

His death, at a hospital, was confirmed by Faisal Farooqui, a family friend, who posted a brief statement on Mr. Kumar’s official Twitter account .

In post-independence India, Mr. Kumar and two other stars set about defining the Hindi film hero. Raj Kapoor reflected the newly minted Indian’s confusion: His signature role was that of the Chaplinesque naïf negotiating a world that was losing its innocence. Dev Anand , known as the Gregory Peck of India, embodied a Western insouciance that still lingered; he became a stylish matinee idol.

Mr. Kumar, though, delved deeply into his characters, breaking free from the semaphoric silent-movie style of acting popularized by megastars like Sohrab Modi and Prithviraj Kapoor.

As one of the country’s earliest Method actors, he was often compared to Marlon Brando, another early adopter of the technique , even though Mr. Kumar claimed he had used it first.

“I learned the importance of studying the script and characters deeply and building upon my own gut observations and sensations about my own and other characters,” Mr. Kumar said in his autobiography, “The Substance and the Shadow” (2014). “The truth is that I am an actor who evolved a method.”

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Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, black writers week, dilip kumar, 1922-2021: the passing of a bollywood king.

Before Shah Rukh Khan danced his way across the screen and before Amitabh Bachchan mastered the “Angry Young Man” motif, Dilip Kumar commanded Indian cinema with a mix of dignity and gentleness. When his friend announced his death in a tweet, a generation of film lovers went into mourning.

Mohammad Yusuf Sarwar Khan was born near Peshawar in the North-West Frontier Province in pre-partition British India. The son of a fruit merchant and a domestic, the young Muslim chose his stage name to be the Hindu “Dilip Kumar” so that his father would not discover he entered the film industry. I suspect his father wanted him to be a physician, and every South Asian in the West understands this sentence.

He grew up with Shristhi Nath (Raj) Kapoor, of the Kapoor family, known as the “First Family” of Indian Cinema, with whom he later starred in his first hit, “Andaz” (1949).

He dominated Indian cinema through the 1950s with a series of hits—"Daag,” “Amar,” “Devdas,” “Madhumati”—becoming India’s highest paid star. While his films covered numerous genres, he developed such a reputation for tragedies that he was nicknamed the “Tragedy King.”

In 1960, he starred in the greatest of all Indian epics, “Mughal-e-Azam,” chronicling the story of Prince Salim who, while being groomed toward the throne, pursues a taboo romance with the dancer Anarkali. It is said that if corrected for inflation, “Mughal-e-Azam,” remains the most profitable Indian movie ever made.

Bollywood men are known for their roles opposite Bollywood women, though for much of his career we associated Kumar with one woman. In the 1960s, he married the actress Saira Banu. The daughter of actress Naseem Banu, she entered cinema as a teenager, as a fan of Kumar. There were numerous attempts to pair her on screen with Kumar that he kept refusing because of her young age. Later, he speaks of meeting her again in her early 20s (he was in his mid-40s), getting entranced by her beauty. Soon, they married. Because their first attempt at having children failed, they chose not to try again. The two remained together for the next half-century.

As a new generation of stars packed auditoriums in the 1970s, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor , and Rishi Kapoor , Kumar’s popularity began to wane. The younger audiences remained interested in forbidden romances, musical numbers, and melodrama, but consumed fisticuffs-as-tools-of-resolution. Now, actors provided gravitas through their ability to injure, rather than their ability to remain still.

Nevertheless, these two generations of film stars and their respective audiences often converged, allowing Kumar a return to the spotlight. He shared the screen in various films with such young stars as Bachchan (“Shakti”), Anil Kapoor (“Mashaal”), and Sanjay Dutt (“Vidhaata”).

Already one of the most decorated of Bollywood film stars, in the latter part of his career he received the honors of an elder statesman. As they have with Satyajit Ray , Lata Mangeshkar, and Raj Kapoor, the Indian film industry awarded him their highest honor, the Dada Sahib Phalke Award. The Indian government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, among the nation’s highest honors. The Pakistani government not only awarded him their highest civilian honor, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, but also named his childhood home in Peshawar a Heritage Site.

His final year of life had its tragedies. India has been one of the global hotspots for COVID-19. Dilip Kumar lost two of his brothers in the pandemic. Soon, he himself succumbed to complications related to prostate cancer.

Despite being a minority in this nation, I never appreciated the attention our American society gives to representation in politics and media. Yet, I fondly remember the unique pride my parents, aunts, and uncles would have when watching Dilip Kumar films on the VCR. Likewise, my cousins and I would watch his films—despite preferring Amitabh’s roles—because of the love our parents had for him. For my father, a Muslim product of Patna City in Bihar, Kumar’s “Mughal-e-Azam” was for him what “ Star Wars ” was for me: that grand story with the grandest of aspirations, compelling us to watch it with the same wide eyes we had as children, the first time we sat in the theater.

He leaves us over 60 movies. I hope then, as our world continues its wide polarization, that Kumar’s life, his films, and his love for India is a reminder that the Subcontinent—especially India—that is full of so many riches, so many traditions, so many cultures, can again be a model to the globe for pluralism and coexistence. Still, his passing reminds us that the word “legend” was coined for the likes of Dilip Kumar. 

Omer M. Mozaffar

Omer M. Mozaffar teaches at Loyola University Chicago, where he is the Muslim Chaplain, teaching courses in Theology and Literature. He has given thousands of talks on Islam since 9/11. He is also a Hollywood Technical Consultant for productions on matters related to Islam, Arabs, South Asians. 

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Bollywood Icon Dilip Kumar Has Died

The Associated Press

Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, shown here in 2008, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. Gurinder Osan/AP hide caption

Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, shown here in 2008, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98.

NEW DELHI — Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar, hailed as the "Tragedy King" and one of Hindi cinema's greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98.

The "Tragedy King" title came from Kumar's numerous serious roles. In several, his character died as a frustrated lover and a drunkard. He also was known as Bollywood's only Method actor for his expressive performances identifying a character's emotions.

Kumar was hospitalized twice last month after he complained of breathlessness, and his family tweeted "with a heavy heart and profound grief" the announcement of his passing.

"Dilip Kumar will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

"An institution has gone," Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan tweeted. "Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar' .."

The Two-Way

India pays final respects to bollywood superstar sridevi.

Kumar's body, draped in the Indian flag, was accorded a state funeral led by a police band. He was buried in a Muslim graveyard in Mumbai city.

Major Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, visited Kumar's residence to pay their respects.

"It's the end of an era," filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar said.

Kumar was born Muhammad Yusuf Khan, a Muslim, on Dec. 11, 1922. His Pathan family hailed from Peshawar, in what became Pakistan after the Partition, and he visited his ancestral home in the late 1980s.

Kumar was hugely popular among cinema lovers in Pakistan as well. In 1998, he was awarded the "Nishan-e-Imtiaz," Pakistan's highest civilian honor, becoming the only Indian citizen to receive it.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened to learn of Kumar's death. "For my generation, Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor,'' he tweeted.

Khan also recalled Kumar's generosity in helping to raise funds in Pakistan and London for a trust to set up cancer hospitals in his mother's memory.

He changed his name as he debuted in Bollywood, the Hindi-language film industry centered in Mumbai, with "Jwar Bhata," or "Sea Tides," in 1944.

Kumar's career spanned over six decades with over 60 films. His first major box-office hits were "Jugnu," or "Firefly," in 1947 in which he starred alongside Noor Jehan, and the 1948 film "Shaheed," or "Martyr."

He played a variety of characters — a romantic hero in "Andaz," a swashbuckler in "Aan," a dramatic drunkard in "Devdas," a comic role in "Azaad." But his portrayal of a Muslim prince in the historical epic "Mughal-e-Azam" cemented his popularity among the masses and catapulted Indian cinema to the world stage.

Mehboob Khan's blockbuster "Aan" in 1952 was his first film in Technicolor and was among a string of light-hearted roles he took at the suggestion of his psychiatrist to shed his "Tragedy King" image.

He starred in many social drama films like "Footpath", "Naya Daur" ("New Era"), "Musafir" ("Traveller") and "Paigham" ("Message") in 1950s.

His top female co-stars included Madhubala, Nargis, Nimmi, Meena Kumari, Kamini Kaushal and Vyjanthimala.

In 1966, Dilip Kumar married Saira Banu, who was 22 years younger than him, and the couple acted in "Gopi," "Sagina Mahato" and "Bairaag." They had no children.

In 1961, he produced and starred in "Ganga Jamuna" in which he and his brother Nasir Khan played the title roles. It was the only film he produced. Indian media reports say he declined the role of Sherif Ali in David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962. The role went to Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.

He took a break in the late '70s but returned with a character role in the successful "Kranti," or "Revolution" in 1981. He continued playing key roles in films such as "Shakti," "Karma" and "Saudagar." His last film was "Qila" ("Fort") in 1998.

In 1994, he was given the "Dadasaheb Phalke" award, the highest honor for contributions to Indian cinema. He also served in the upper house of Indian Parliament after being nominated for a six-year term.

Kumar is survived by his wife, actor Saira Banu.

Dilip Kumar Wiki, Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Starting his career in British India, appearing in Bollywood’s some of the blockbusters, the Tragedy King , Dilip Kumar was an Indian film institution himself. Working more than six decades, Dilip Kumar had seen the Indian Cinema change. The winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Dilip Kumar portrayed every sort of role in his long acting career..

Biography/Wiki

Muhammad Yusuf Khan alias Dilip Kumar was born on 11 December 1922 (age 98 years; at the time of death) in a Muslim family in Peshawar, (Now in Pakistan) British India. His father was a fruit merchant, who owned an orchard in Peshawar. For his primary education, Muhammad Yusuf Khan was sent to Nasik, Maharashtra where he became a close friend of another would-be Bollywood star, Raj Kapoor .

Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor

In 1940, when he was only 18 years old, he fled to Poona (Modern day, Pune, Maharashtra) after an argument with his father. On the merit of good English speaking and writing skills, he managed to get a job.

Childhood photo of Dilip Kumar

He set up a sandwich stall at Army Club in Pune. when the contract ended, he shifted to Mumbai with the saving of ₹5000. In 1942, he met  Dr. Masani who took him to Bombay Talkies in Malad where he met actress  Devika Rani , owner of Bombay Talkies. Devika Rani asked him to sign up with Bombay Talkies with the salary of ₹1250/month. It was Devika Rani who requested him to change his name to Dilip Kumar .

Dilip Kumar and Devika Rani

Later, he met actor  Ashok Kumar , who influenced his acting style and told him to act natural.

Dilip Kumar with Ashok Kumar

Dilip Kumar was born to  Lala Ghulam Sarwar and  Ayesha Begum .

Dilip Kumar with his mother

Dilip Kumar lived in a small house in Peshawar, Pakistan with his 11 siblings.

Dilip Kumar’s house in Peshawar

He had five brothers: Nasir Khan (Younger, Film Actor), Ehsan Khan, Aslam Khan, Noor Mohammed, and Ayub Sarwar. Dilip Kumar had six sisters: Fauzia Khan, Sakina Khan, Taj Khan, Farida Khan, Saeeda Khan, and Akhtar Asif; Saeeda Khan passed away on 24 September 2023 due to prolonged illness. [1] The Times of India

Saira Banu with Dilip Kumar’s sisters

He got married to film actress Saira Banu on 11 October 1966.

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu’s marriage photo

In 1980, he got married to Asma Rehman .

Dilip Kumar with Asma Rehman

He has no child.

Dilip Kumar made his debut in 1944 from the film  Jwar Bhata . In 1949, he got his breakthrough from Mehboob Khan’s directed, Andaz . During the 1950s, he worked in several films such as Babul (1950), Jogan (1950), Deedar (1951), Hulchul, (1951), Daag (1952), Shikast (1953), Amar (1954), Insaniyat (1955), Uran Khatola (1955), Devdas (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Madhumati (1958), Yahudi (1958), etc.

Dilip Kumar made his debut from Jwar Bhata

In 1960, he portrayed the role of ‘ Prince Salim ‘ in K. Asif’s high-budget historical film, Mughal-e-Azam which was the highest grossing film in the Indian Cinema for the next 11 years until it was surpassed by film  Haathi Mere Saathi  (1971) and later by the film  Sholay (1975).

In 1991, he did  Saudagar , alongside fellow veteran actor Raaj Kumar . This film was his last box-office success.

In 1998, he worked on his last film, Qila  which was a flop at the box office.

Relationships & More

During his initial days in Bollywood, he was hooked up with  Kamini Kaushal , a former actress.

Dilip Kumar with his ex-girlfriend Kamini Kaushal

But, later, his pair with Madhubala (Actress) became very popular. During the filming of the movie Tarana  (1951), Dilip Kumar fell in love with Madhubala. They dated each other for seven years until Dilip Kumar stood by BR Chopra against Madhubala.

He married actress, Saira Banu in 1966 who was 22 years younger than him.

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu

In 1980, he got married to Hyderabad socialite Asma Sahiba , but the marriage did not last for long and ended in January 1983.

Awards/Honours/Achievements

Dilip Kumar held the Guinness World Record for winning the maximum number of awards by an Indian Actor. He won 8 Filmfare awards for the best actor and one Lifetime Achievement award. In 1980, he was appointed the Sheriff of Mumbai  (An Honorary Position). In 1991, the then Indian government honoured him with the  Padma Bhushan . He was bestowed upon the  Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994.

Dilip Kumar receiving Dadasaheb Phalke Award

In 1997, the government of Andhra Pradesh honoured him with  NTR National Award .

Dilip Kumar receiving Padma Vibhushan by the Cabinet Minister Rajnath Singh

He has a net worth of $85 million.

On the morning of 7 July 2021, Dilip Kumar passed away at the age of 98 at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital. [2] The Indian Express The actor had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing breathlessness on 30 June 2021.

With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return. – Faisal Farooqui — Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 7, 2021

Later, it was announced through the actor’s official Twitter handle that the burial would take place at Juhu Qabrastan in Santacruz, Mumbai at 5:00 PM on 7 July 2021.

Burial today at 5:00 PM. Juhu Qabrastan at Santacruz Mumbai. — Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 7, 2021

Interesting Facts

Dilip Kumar with Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor

• His first anti-hero role was in   Mehboob Khan’s Amar  (1954).
• In order to shed his image as  “Tragedy King” once, a psychiatrist advised him to take lighthearted roles.
• In 1961, he produced one and last film of his career-  Ganga Jamuna  in which his younger brother- Nasir Khan also acted alongside him.
• In 1962, a British director, David Lean offered him a role in a British Film–  Lawrence of Arabia,  which he declined.

Dilip Kumar starred in Gopi with his wife Saira Banu

• In 1997, Dilip Kumar was honoured with ‘ Nishan-e-Imtiaz ‘ (highest civilian award in Pakistan) by the Government of Pakistan.
• Between 2000 and 2006, he was the Member of Rajya Sabha on the Congress’ ticket.
• In 2011, on his 89th birthday, he launched his Twitter account.
• In 2013, he went to a pilgrimage, to Mecca along with his wife.

References [+] [−]

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My only regret is that Dilip kumar & raj kapoor Should have made more movies working together other then just One movie Andaz

His acting was very fake, rehearsed and monotonous, all his mannerisms were predictable from the word go. He had innumerable affairs and marriages and was a very slimy character all hi life.

He was most copied actor by those who had aspirations to become an actor

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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Dilip Kumar death: star dies aged 98 as Bollywood mourns loss of 'cinematic legend'

Prime minister narendra modi and other famous actors were quick to pay tribute to the acting 'legend'.

Veteran Indian actor Dilip Kumar receiving his award for outstanding achievement in Indian cinema at the fifth International Indian Film Academy Awards in Singapore in May 2004. Kumar, one of the biggest stars in the golden age of Indian cinema from the 1940s to the 1960s, died on July 7, aged 98.

Dilip Kumar, often referred to as the tragedy king of Bollywood or the "First Khan", has died aged 98.

"With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago," family friend Faisal Farooqui wrote on Kumar's Twitter account early on Wednesday morning. "We are from God and to Him we return."

With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return. - Faisal Farooqui — Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 7, 2021

Dr Jalil Parkar, who was reportedly treating Kumar, told local media that the Indian actor, producer and philanthropist died because of a prolonged illness, while doctors have been quoted as saying he had advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to other organs.

Kumar, whose real name was Mohammed Yusuf Khan, was admitted to hospital on June 30, after he complained of breathlessness. He had been regularly ill for months.

His wife, Saira Banu, also a prominent actress, wrote on Twitter on Monday: "We are grateful for God's infinite mercy on Dilip Sahib that his health is improving. We are still in hospital and request your prayers and duas so that Insha’Allah he is healthy and discharged soon."

Kumar, who was born in Peshawar, Pakistan in 1922, was working in the film industry since 1944, when he starred in his first feature film, a romantic drama called Jwar Bhata .

With 66 acting credits to his name on IMDb, his career spanned five decades and included popular roles in several beloved films, such as action-adventure comedy Kohinoor , musical drama Gunga Jumna and musical romance Devdas , to name a few.

He was last seen on the big screen in family drama Qila , in which he played both lead roles of twin brothers, Jagannath Singh and Amarnath Singh, in 1998.

Credited as the first method actor in India, Kumar also holds the Guinness World Record for winning the largest number of awards by an Indian actor.

'A cinematic legend'

Bollywood stars were quick to pay tribute to Kumar on social media. "An institution has gone," wrote Amitabh Bachchan on Twitter. "Whenever the history of Indian cinema will be written, it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar'. My duas for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss. Deeply saddened."

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, also paid his respects. "Dilip Kumar Ji will be remembered as a cinematic legend," he wrote on Twitter. "He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP."

Dilip Kumar Ji will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 7, 2021

Indian actor Siddharth Suryanarayan, known mononymously as Siddharth, wrote: "One of the greatest actors the world has ever known has left us. A giant tree has fallen. I pray for the soul of legend #DilipKumar sahab. I also pray today's generation learns about and celebrates him. He is forever."

Kumar is survived by his wife. The couple had no children, although he has a nephew, Ayub Khan, who is also an actor and son of Kumar's late brother, actor Nasir Khan.

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Dilip Kumar, Bollywood’s great ‘Tragedy King,’ dies at 98

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2008, file photo, veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, right, receives a Lifetime Achievement award at the 54th National Film Award ceremony in New Delhi, India. Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan, File)

Saira Banu, wife of Indian actor Dilip Kumar, wearing blue mask, center, mourns near his body at a hospital in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

A relative of Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar mourns outside his house in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Police officers stand outside the residence of Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

An ambulance carrying the body of Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar arrives outside his house in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Indian police officers salute during the guard of honor for Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (Kunal Patil/Pool photo via AP)

A police officer places an Indian national flag over the coffin of Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar during his funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (Kunal Patil/Pool photo via AP)

Actor Shahrukh Khan, right, consoles Saira Banu as she mourns death of her husband and Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar at their residence in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (Kunal Patil/Pool photo via AP)

Saira Banu, second right, mourns the death of her husband and Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98. (Kunal Patil/Pool photo via AP)

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NEW DELHI (AP) — Bollywood icon Dilip Kumar, hailed as the “Tragedy King” and one of Hindi cinema’s greatest actors, died Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 98.

The “Tragedy King” title came from Kumar’s numerous serious roles. In several, his character died as a frustrated lover and a drunkard. He also was known as Bollywood’s only Method actor for his expressive performances identifying a character’s emotions.

Kumar was hospitalized twice last month after he complained of breathlessness, and his family tweeted “with a heavy heart and profound grief” the announcement of his passing.

“Dilip Kumar will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

“An institution has gone,” Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan tweeted. “Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be ‘before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar’ ..”

Kumar’s body, draped in the Indian flag, was accorded a state funeral led by a police band. He was buried in a Muslim graveyard in Mumbai city.

Major Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, visited Kumar’s residence to pay their respects.

“It’s the end of an era,” filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar said.

Kumar was born Muhammad Yusuf Khan, a Muslim, on Dec. 11, 1922. His Pathan family hailed from Peshawar, in what became Pakistan after the Partition, and he visited his ancestral home in the late 1980s.

Kumar was hugely popular among cinema lovers in Pakistan as well. In 1998, he was awarded the “Nishan-e-Imtiaz,” Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, becoming the only Indian citizen to receive it.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened to learn of Kumar’s death. “For my generation, Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor,’’ he tweeted.

Khan also recalled Kumar’s generosity in helping to raise funds in Pakistan and London for a trust to set up cancer hospitals in his mother’s memory.

He changed his name as he debuted in Bollywood, the Hindi-language film industry centered in Mumbai, with “Jwar Bhata,” or “Sea Tides,” in 1944.

Kumar’s career spanned over six decades with over 60 films. His first major box-office hits were “Jugnu,” or “Firefly,” in 1947 in which he starred alongside Noor Jehan, and the 1948 film “Shaheed,” or ”Martyr.”

He played a variety of characters — a romantic hero in “Andaz,” a swashbuckler in “Aan,” a dramatic drunkard in “Devdas,” a comic role in “Azaad.” But his portrayal of a Muslim prince in the historical epic “Mughal-e-Azam” cemented his popularity among the masses and catapulted Indian cinema to the world stage.

Mehboob Khan’s blockbuster “Aan” in 1952 was his first film in Technicolor and was among a string of light-hearted roles he took at the suggestion of his psychiatrist to shed his “Tragedy King” image.

He starred in many social drama films like “Footpath”, “Naya Daur” (“New Era”), “Musafir” (“Traveller”) and “Paigham” (“Message”) in 1950s.

His top female co-stars included Madhubala, Nargis, Nimmi, Meena Kumari, Kamini Kaushal and Vyjanthimala.

In 1966, Dilip Kumar married Saira Banu, who was 22 years younger than him, and the couple acted in “Gopi,” “Sagina Mahato” and “Bairaag.” They had no children.

In 1961, he produced and starred in “Ganga Jamuna” in which he and his brother Nasir Khan played the title roles. It was the only film he produced. Indian media reports say he declined the role of Sherif Ali in David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962. The role went to Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.

He took a break in the late ‘70s but returned with a character role in the successful “Kranti,” or “Revolution” in 1981. He continued playing key roles in films such as “Shakti,” “Karma” and “Saudagar.” His last film was “Qila” (“Fort”) in 1998.

In 1994, he was given the “Dadasaheb Phalke” award, the highest honor for contributions to Indian cinema. He also served in the upper house of Indian Parliament after being nominated for a six-year term.

Kumar is survived by his wife, actor Saira Banu.

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Dilip kumar, indian acting icon dubbed the “tragedy king,” dies at 98.

Credited with bringing method acting to Indian cinema, he starred in several classic films including 'Andaz,' 'Daag,' 'Devdas,' 'Azaad,' 'Mughal-e-Azam' and many more.

By Abid Rahman

Abid Rahman

International Editor, Digital

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Dilip Kumar, the Indian acting icon who was credited with bringing realism and the method style into Hindi cinema and was widely known as the “Tragedy King,” has died. He was 98.

Local news reports, citing Kumar’s family and doctor, say he died on Wednesday morning at a Mumbai hospital after a prolonged illness.

In a career that spanned five decades, Kumar is widely regarded as the finest actor India has ever produced. Starring in some of the all-time classic films of Indian cinema, Kumar’s versatility and command of his craft allowed him to excel across genres.

Some of his best-known films include Aan , Daag , Devdas , Madhumati , Azaad , Mughal-e-Azam , Gunga Jamuna , Kranti , Karma and  Ram Aur Shyam . He was awarded the inaugural Filmfare Award for best actor in 1954 and is tied with Shah Rukh Khan for most wins at eight.

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Hugely influential, his style directly inspired the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. His overarching importance to his craft and enduring popularity led to him being retrospectively dubbed the “First Khan of Bollywood” among film fans.

Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on Dec. 11, 1922, in Peshawar, which was then part of British India and is now part of Pakistan, Kumar was one of 12 children of a fruit seller. His early years saw him lead something of a peripatetic life until he found himself in Mumbai in the 1940s. A chance encounter led to him meeting Devika Rani the owner of the Bombay Talkies movie studio and she gave him his stage name and signed him up as a contract star, despite his lack of acting experience and training. Rani cast him as the lead in the drama Jwaar Bhata (1944) which didn’t get much attention. His third film Milan (1946), based on the novel Nauka Dubi but Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore, saw him work with director Nitin Bose who was a great influence and taught him to act in the more natural and realistic style for which he became known.

The late 1940s and early 1950s saw Kumar take on a number of tragic roles, which cemented his legacy as the “Tragedy King” in the public’s imagination. Self-trained in the method style years before the likes of Marlon Brando and Warren Beatty made their mark, he so thoroughly immersed himself in tragic roles that he became depressed and famously visited a psychiatrist who recommended he take on lighter comedic parts to lift his gloom.

His notable films from the period include the romantic drama Daag , for which he won the inaugural Filmfare best actor award in 1954, the lush musical Aan , India’s first technicolor film, and Andaz , a film he starred opposite his friend and rival Raj Kapoor and Insaniyat in which he co-starred with Dev Anand.

Kumar, Kapoor and Anand together would dominate Hindi cinema in the 1950s and 1960s, but Kumar stood out for his less mannered style and his tendency to inhabit roles, nailing accents and dialects and taking on a greater range of roles.

In his peak years, he was often paired with several leading ladies including Nur Jahan, Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nalini Jaywant and Nutan.

In 1960, Kumar starred as Prince Salim in the historical Mughal-e-Azam , which for many years was the highest-grossing Indian film. The following year he showed off his range by starring as the rural bandit Ganga in Ganga Jumna. Around this time, David Lean offered him the part of Sherif Ali in Lawrence of Arabia but he turned it down, with the part going to Omar Sharif.

After the success of dramedy Ram Aur Shyam and drama Aadmi , his career went into a comparative fallow period that lasted for much of the 1970s and included a self-enforced hiatus. He made a roaring comeback in 1981’s Kranti , a star-packed historical drama and had a handful of other hits during the decade, often taking support roles but it was clear his acting career was winding down.

In 1993, he was awarded Filmfare’s lifetime achievement award and his final film role came in 1998 with Qila.

He was cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the Indian actor with a record number of awards. He was given the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994, India’s highest award in the field of cinema. He also received the Padma Vibhushan in 1991, India’s second-highest civilian award. Notably, he was awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 1997, which caused some controversy at home.

He is survived by his wife the actress Saira Banu. The couple married in 1966 and starred together in the films Gopi , Sagina Mahato and Bairaag . They had no children.

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What Made Dilip Kumar Such A Brilliant, Evocative Actor

Described by satyajit ray as "the ultimate method actor," dilip kumar's resume contains many of indian cinema's landmark, genre-defining roles.

Dilip Kumar - forever. (courtesy TheDilipKumar )

• Dilip Kumar died at the age of 98
• He received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015
• Dilip Kumar was the first Filmfare Best Actor winner

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar died in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday , where he was admitted for about a week. He was taken to the hospital after complaining of breathlessness - it was the second time he had been hospitalised in the same month. "He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am," Dr Jalil Parkar, who had been treating Dilip Kumar, told news agency PTI. A tweet posted from the actor's official handle by family friend Faisal Farooqui read: "With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip saab a few minutes ago. We are from God and to him we return." He was 98.

Dilip Kumar had been in and out hospital several times over the last few years and had spent his 94th birthday in hospital. Dilip Kumar, star of iconic films such as Devdas and Madhumati , was often cited by colleagues such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan as the actor they most admire. He is survived by Saira Banu, his wife of over 50 years.

A still from Devdas .

Described by Satyajit Ray as "the ultimate method actor," Dilip Kumar's resume contains many of Indian cinema's landmark, genre-defining roles. His performances as the drunken, doomed lover in Devdas and the rebellious royal son in Mughal-e-Azam have been endlessly referenced by his successors on-screen. In Madhumati , he set the trend for reincarnation films. In Ram Aur Shyam , he established the twins-separated-at-birth formula. He became the first ever winner of the Filmfare Best Actor award for Daag in 1954 and went on to win the award another seven times. Just one other actor has equalled Dilip Kumar's eight Filmfare wins - Shah Rukh Khan, who has often cited the older actor as his inspiration.

Born Yusuf Khan in Peshawar on December 11, 1922, the young Dilip Kumar went to school in Deolali, Maharashtra, where his fruit merchant father owned orchards. In 1940, Dilip Kumar moved to Pune and set up shop supplying dry fruits and running a canteen. Three years later, actress Devika Rani and her husband actor-director Himanshu Rai spotted him in a military canteen and cast him as the lead in 1944's Jwar Bhata . Author Bhagwati Charan Varma changed his name from Yusuf Khan to Dilip Kumar and the young actor took his first tentative steps towards stardom.

Jwar Bhata , however, sank without a trace at the box office, as did his next film Pratima . Then his luck turned with 1947's Jugnu , which co-starred actresses Noor Jehan and Ruby Myers and a little known Mohd Rafi, later to become one of cinema's most legendary voices. After the success of Jugnu came 1948's patriotic-themed Shaheed . Then, in 1949, the breakthrough Andaz , co-starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis, made Dilip Kumar a star.

A still from Mughal-e-Azam .

A series of dramatic roles followed in Deedar (1951), Daag (1952), Devdas and Azaad (1955). In 1958, he starred with actress Vyjayanthimala in the reincarnation and revenge themed Madhumati. In the epic Mughal-e-Azam (1960), he played Prince Salim battling his father, Emperor Akbar, to save his romance with the dancing girl Anarkali. Crowned Bollywood's 'Tragedy King,' Dilip Kumar was famously advised by his doctor to switch to lighter fare, which he did with great success in films like Aan (1952), Azaad (1955) and Kohinoor (1960). In 1957's Naya Daur , he played a tongawalla dealing with industrialization in independent India. In 1961, he produced and starred with his brother Nasir Khan in Ganga Jamuna . In 1967, he played a double role in Ram Aur Shyam , the film that inspired later blockbusters Seeta Aur Geeta and Chaalbaaz .

During this period, Dilip Kumar reportedly refused the role of Sherif Ali in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia , which was then played by Egyptian star Omar Sharif. In the Seventies, Dilip Kumar's career slumped somewhat in the wake of Rajesh Khanna's superstardom and the rise of Amitabh Bachchan's Angry Young Man. After a five year break, he returned to celluloid in the superhit Kranti (1981) as part of an ensemble cast featuring Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha. He then switched seamlessly from playing the hero to supporting roles, starring in acclaimed films such as Ramesh Sippy's Shakti (1982), Yash Chopra's Mashaal (1984) and Saudagar (1991) in which he co-starred with Raaj Kumar and Manisha Koirala. 1998's Qila marked his last appearance on-screen.

During his career, Dilip Kumar formed hit partnerships with actresses Vyjayanthimala, Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Kamini Kaushal and Nargis. Mohd Rafi often sang playback for him, as did Mukesh, Talat Mehmood and Kishore Kumar.

A still from Naya Daur .

An alleged romance with co-star Madhubala is the stuff of Bollywood legend, with a planned secret marriage reportedly being nipped in the bud by the actress' disapproving father. In 1966, Dilip Kumar married actress Saira Banu, his co-star in films like Gopi and Bairaag .

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Dilip Kumar received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award in December 2015. Home Minister Rajnath Singh presented the award at his residence as the actor couldn't travel to New Delhi due to health issues then.

Dilip Kumar also received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award in 1991. In 1994, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. In 1998, Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz , an honour he retained in the face of shrill objections from Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena. He was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha for a term.

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Dilip Kumar Biography

Birthday: December 11 , 1922 ( Sagittarius )

Born In: Peshawar, Pakistan

Dilip Kumar , popularly called the Tragedy King, was among the greatest actors ever to have graced Indian cinema. Born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan, he adopted the screen name Dilip Kumar in keeping up with the traditions of early Hindi filmdom. The iconic actor had a long and illustrious career spanning over five decades and was considered one of the foremost figures of the ‘Golden Era of Indian Cinema’. He entered the world of Hindi cinema during the 1940s when Bollywood was still in its infancy. His foray into acting was by chance—he actually started out as a canteen owner when a chance encounter with the actress Devika Rani resulted in a film offer. Even though his debut film did not do well, he soon established himself as an emotive character actor by the end of the decade. In spite of his being a versatile actor who played several different characters with the same intensity and effectiveness, he was best known for portraying tragic roles in films like ‘Jogan’, ‘Deedar’ and ‘Devdas’ which earned him the title Tragedy King. Dilip Kumar had the distinction of being the first actor to receive a Filmfare Best Actor Award, an award which he won eight times throughout his career.

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Also Known As: Muhammad Yusuf Khan

Died At Age: 98

Spouse/Ex-: Saira Banu (m. 1966–2021), Asma Rehman (m. 1981–1983), Saira Banu (m. 1966–2021)

father: Lala Ghulam Sarwar

mother: Ayesha Begum

siblings: Akhtar Asif, Ayub Sarwar, Nasir Khan, Noor Mohammed

Born Country: India

Actors T V & Movie Producers

Height: 5'10" (178 cm ), 5'10" Males

Died on: July 7 , 2021

place of death: Mumbai Maharastra, India

City: Peshawar, Pakistan

awards: 1954 - Filmfare Best Actor Award (Daag) 1956 - Filmfare Best Actor Award (Azaad) 1957 - Filmfare Best Actor Award ( Devdas)

1958 - Filmfare Best Actor Award ( Naya Daur) 1961 - Filmfare Best Actor Award ( Kohinoor) 1965 - Filmfare Best Actor Award (Leader) 1968 - Filmfare Best Actor Award ( Ram Aur Shyam) 1983 - Filmfare Best Actor Award (Shakti)

You wanted to know

What are some iconic movies of dilip kumar.

Some iconic movies of Dilip Kumar include "Mughal-E-Azam," "Devdas," "Naya Daur," "Madhumati," and "Ram Aur Shyam."

Did Dilip Kumar work in any regional language films?

Yes, Dilip Kumar worked in a few regional language films, including the Tamil movie "Iruvar Ullam" and the Bengali movie "Sagina Mahato."

What was Dilip Kumar's approach to acting?

Dilip Kumar was known for his method acting approach, where he would deeply immerse himself in the character he was playing to deliver authentic and powerful performances.

How did Dilip Kumar contribute to the Indian film industry?

Dilip Kumar is considered a legendary actor who raised the bar for acting in Indian cinema with his nuanced performances and significant contributions to the industry over several decades.

Was Dilip Kumar involved in any philanthropic activities?

Yes, Dilip Kumar was involved in various philanthropic activities throughout his life, including supporting charitable organizations and initiatives aimed at helping the less fortunate in society.

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Dilip Kumar was born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan into a Pashtun family in Peshawar (now in Pakistan). His father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar was a fruit merchant. He received his primary education from the prestigious Barnes School in Deolali.

His large family relocated to Mumbai during the 1930s in search of a better future for the children.

Dilip Kumar went to Pune during the early 1940s where he began operating a canteen. He supplemented his income by supplying dry fruit.

Dilip Kumar happened to meet actress Devika Rani and her husband Himanshu Rai in 1943. Rai was the owner of Bombay Talkies and the husband-wife duo selected Dilip Kumar for playing the lead role in their film ‘Jwar Bhata’ which was released in 1944. During this time he acquired the screen name Dilip Kumar.

He starred as Sooraj in ‘Jugnu’ in 1947 which also had Noor Jehan and Shashikala in important roles. The film was a big hit and is noted for being the legendary actor’s first major hit.

After the success of ‘Jugnu’, Dilip Kumar was flooded with movie offers and appeared in several movies in 1948 including ‘Shaheed’, ‘Mela’ and ‘Anokha Pyar’ of which ‘Shaheed’ was a big hit.

He found his big breakthrough with Mehboob Khan’s ‘Andaz’ in 1949. It was a love triangle which also starred Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The movie went on to become the top grossing film ever made in India till then.

The decade of 1950s was very productive for him. It was during this time that his image as a tragic hero began to emerge as he played tragic roles in ‘Jogan’ 1950, ‘Deedar’ (1951) and ‘Daag’ (1952).

In 1955, he played the title role in “Devdas’, a love story in which Vyjayanthimala and Suchitra Sen played his love interests. His role as an obsessive lover who wastes away his life by drinking is often considered the epitome of the tragic lover.

He was again cast opposite Vyjayanthimala in the drama film ‘Naya Daur’ in 1957. The story was set against the backdrop of industrialization in post-independence India. The movie became a huge commercial hit.

After enjoying superstardom during the 1950s, he welcomed the new decade of the 1960s with a stellar performance in ‘Kohinoor’ (1960) as Yuvraj Rana Devendra Bahadur for which he won a Filmfare Best Actor Award.

The 1960s was also successful for him though not as successful as the preceding decade. His major movies were ‘Gunga Jumna’ (1961), ‘Dil Diya Dard Liya’ (1966), ‘Ram Aur Shyam’ (1967), and ‘Aadmi’ (1968).

Dilip Kumar's career faltered during the 1970s as newer actors like Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan were beginning to gain in popularity. He appeared only in a few films like ‘Gopi’ (1970), ‘Sagina’ (1974), and ‘Bairaag’ (1976) which failed to do well at the box office. He took a hiatus of five years following this.

He made a successful comeback in 1981 with the multi-starrer ‘Kranti’ which had a large star cast consisting of Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Prem Chopra, Shatrughan Sinha, and Paintal among others.

During the 1980s and 1990s he started playing roles that were more suited to his age. He appeared in numerous films as the father or grandfather of the young protagonists. His last film appearance was in ‘Qila’ in 1998 in which he played dual roles.

One of the best known works of Dilip Kumar is his movie ‘Devdas’ which is a love triangle revolving around the doomed love of Devdas and Paro. The movie won him a Filmfare Award and was ranked among the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films by Indiatimes Movies in 2005.

His film ‘Kohinoor’ in which he acted opposite Meena Kumari was a rare film where he played a light-hearted role. The movie is famous for its funny scenes and Dilip Kumar won a Filmfare Award for his role.

‘Ram Aur Shyam’ a film in which he played the dual roles of twin brothers who are separated at birth and reunited later on is a very famous film which has inspired several remakes in Hindi films.

Dilip Kumar was the recipient of eight Filmfare Best Actor Award—a record for the highest number of awards which he shares with Shah Rukh Khan.

He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India by the Government of India in 1991.

He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

Dilip Kumar was in a romantic relationship with actress Madhubala but had to end it as her father was opposed to their marriage.

He married the much younger actress Saira Banu in 1966; he was 44 and she was 22 at the time of their marriage.

He had a second marriage with Asma in 1981 but the marriage was short-lived and ended in a divorce in 1983.

He served as a Member of Parliament for in Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006.

Dilip Kumar died on 7 July 2021, at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, at the age of 98. He was suffering from prostate cancer.

Dilip Kumar's real name is Muhammad Yusuf Khan. He changed his name to Dilip Kumar when he entered the film industry.

Dilip Kumar was known for his method acting and would often immerse himself completely in his characters, sometimes even staying in character off-screen.

Dilip Kumar was a skilled amateur painter and enjoyed spending his free time creating artwork.

Dilip Kumar was a polyglot and could speak several languages fluently, including Hindi, Urdu, English, and Pashto.

Dilip Kumar was a philanthropist at heart and was involved in various charitable activities throughout his life, supporting causes related to education, healthcare, and social welfare.

Dilip Kumar Movies

  (War, Drama, Romance)

  (Mystery, Musical, Romance)

  (Romance, Musical, Drama)

  (Musical, Drama, Romance)

  (Romance, Musical)

  (Action, Romance, Musical, Drama)

  (Drama)

  (Drama, Romance)

  (Drama, Crime)

  (Family, Drama, Action)

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Dilip Kumar Biography: Real name, age, net worth, wife, family, film career, death and more

The tragedy king of india, dilip kumar is no more. he left for heavenly abode on july 7, 2021 at 7:30 am. let us know more about the legendary actor, his wife and his life below. .

Legendary film actor Dilip Kumar passed away today morning at the age of 98 in Hinduja Hospital Mumbai . He was suffering from prolonged illness. As per the doctor Jalil Parkar, who was treating him,  "He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am."

Know more about the greatest actor of tragedy in India, his real name, his career and family life in the article below. 

But before that let's go through some tweets made in his honour by various known people in his life. 

With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return. - Faisal Farooqui — Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 7, 2021

Dilip Kumar Ji will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 7, 2021

Amitabh Bachchan, who is a staunch follower of Dilip Kumar tweeted in his honour;

T 3958 - An institution has gone .. whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written , it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar' .. My duas for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss .. 🤲🤲🤲 Deeply saddened .. 🙏 — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 7, 2021

The actor would be buried today as per the tweet shared by his family friend.

Burial today at 5:00 PM. Juhu Qabrastan at Santacruz Mumbai. — Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 7, 2021

Dilip Kumar: Real name, Birth and Early Life  Dilip Kumar was born as Mohammed Yusuf Khan to Ayesha Begum and Lala Ghulam Sarwar Khan in 1922. He was one of the twelve children of the couple born on 11th December 1922 at Qissa Khawani Bazar area of Peshawar. Dilip Kumar's father was a landlord and a fruit merchant; his mother was  a homemaker.  Mohammed Yusuf was schooled in Nashik. His neighbour and childhood friend was the one and only Raj Kapoor.  He had an altercation with his father in his teen age and left for Pune. With the help of the Parsi contractor, Kumar, he got his first job based on his good English. His career started when he met actress Devika Rani, owner of Bombay Talkies and Ashok Kumar who later influenced his acting style.  Dilip Kumar: The First Film and Career Dilip Kumar's first film was Jwar Bhata in 1944 . The film brought him no fame and was followed by various unsuccessful films. It was Jugnu alongside Noor Jehan that brought him fame. Then came Shaheed and Mela but his first breakthrough was Andaz alongside Raj Kapoor and Nargis and Dilip Kumar became what he deserved. In 1950s, he became the first actor to charge a hefty amount of 1 lakh per film.  Dilip Kumar : Married Life It is said that Saira Banu always knew she would marry Dilip Kumar. She went head over heels over him since the age of 12. In an interview she once said, "I was not just another girl smitten by Dilip Kumar. For me, it was no castle in the air because I had given my dream the strong foundation of faith- faith in myself and faith in God." Naseem Banu, Saira's mother played the cupid and love blossomed between the two on the sets of Jhuk Gaya Aasman where Dilip Kumar proposed to her for marriage. They tied the knot on October 11, 1966. Saira Banu was 22 years younger to Dilip Kumar when she married him. It is not very known, but Dilip Kumar had another wife, Asma Rehman, 16 years after he married Saira Banu. However, that marriage ended in 1983.    Dilip Kumar Family: Dilip Kumar had 6 sisters: Fauzia Khan, Sakina Khan, Taj Khan, Farida Khan, Saeeda Khan, and Akhtar Asif. His brothers were Nasir Khan, Aslam Khan, Ehsaan Khan, Noor Mohammed, Ayub Sarwar.  Dilip Kumar had no children from both his wives.  Dilip Kumar: Net Worth and Legacy It was reported by a film magazine once, that Dilip Kumar's net worth is estimated to be around INR 627 crores. His major source of income was acting. The actor was alos a Member of Parliament of which he drew a salary.  The actor will always be remembered because of his films like Nadiya Ke Par (1948), Arzoo (1950), Daag (1952), Devdas (1954), Naya Daur (1957), Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), and Karma (1986). His final film before he quit facing the camera was Qila in 1998.  His most famous dialogues were from films like Mughal-e-Azam which would be remembered for centuries: " Taqdeerein badal jaati hain, zamana badal jaata hai, mulkon ki tarikh badal jaati hain, Shahenshah badal jaate hain,  magar is badalti huyi duniya mein mohabbat jis insaan ka daaman thaam leti hai,  woh insaan nahi badalta." Another dialogue would be from the film Saudagar that won the hearts of the audience- "Haq hamesha sar jhukake nahin, sar uthake maanga jaata hai." His films were always thought provoking and the actor went on to gain titles like King of Romance, Tragedy King and others.  He is said to be one of the greatest intellects of the film industry who was always surrounded with thoughtful people.  May his soul Rest In Peace! Also Raed| Milkha Singh Biography: Age, Death, Family, Career, Records, Awards and Honours and more

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India , World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App .

• Why did Dilip Kumar change his name? + Dilip Saab admitted that due to "Pitayi ka Darr" aka to avoid a beating from his father, he had to change his name. His father did not consider films as an apt profession.
• What is Dilip Kumar's net worth? + Dilip Kumar's net worth is basically from his acting career and his Member of Parliament salary. It is estimated to be around 627 crore INR.
• Who is Dilip Kumar's son? + Dilip Kumar has no children from both his wives. Neither did he have a child with Saira Banu, nor with Asma Rehman
• What is Dilip Kumar's real name? + Dilip Kumar's real name was Mohammed Yusuf Khan
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Dilip Kumar (1922-2021)

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

• 17 wins & 10 nominations

• DCP Ashwini Kumar

• Vijay Khanna

• Jagannath Singh
• Judge Amaranath Singh

• Veeru Singh

• Collector Jagatpratap Singh

• Vishwa Pratap Singh aka Rana (Dada Thakur)

• Mohan Kumar

• Vinod Kumar

• Dinanath Saxena

• Shamsher Singh

• Director (uncredited)
• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• Encyclopedia
• France's national library catalogue
• 5′ 8¼″ (1.74 m)
• December 11 , 1922
• Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India
• July 7 , 2021
• Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (prolonged illness)
• Spouses Asma Rehman 1981 - 1983 (divorced)
• Parents Lala Ghulam Sarwar Khan
• Relatives Ayub Khan (Niece or Nephew)
• Other works memoir: "Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow"
• 3 Print Biographies

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• Trivia Declined the role of Sherif Ali in David Lean's 'Lawrence of Arabia', ultimately played by Egyptian star Omar Sharif. Sharif was offered the role of Tafas who is ironically shot by Sherif Ali in his introductory desert sequence. Omar Sharif got catapulted into the world scene with this role, going on to further collaborate with David Lean in another epic 'Doctor Zhivago' (this time in the lead role).
• Quotes Am overwhelmed by the affection shown by the people over the years. But to be very frank, I have been outdone by actors like my seniors M.G.Ramachandran and Pran and then by Sivaji Ganesan, Sanjeev Kumar and Rajesh Khanna who were much more versatile than me as actors. Their number of films and the various characters they have done are much more than that of mine.
• Trademark His deep, rich voice
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Saira Banu remembers husband Dilip Kumar on his death anniversary

She calls him an ‘inspiration for six generations of actors’.

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Published: Mon 8 Jul 2024, 12:25 PM

Last updated: Mon 8 Jul 2024, 12:26 PM

Veteran star Saira Banu remembered her late husband, the legendary actor Dilip Kumar, on his death anniversary. He died on July 7, 2021.

Kumar was known for his unrivalled acting abilities.

Banu wrote a long letter addressing the late actor. She recalled how they walked together "hand in hand". She also posted a series of photos as well as an anecdote about their relationship.

In her long post, she mentioned that Kumar used to call her 'sleeping pill' as after their marriage he was able to sleep well.

She wrote, “You see, Sahib was the greatest actor of all time. He had absolutely everything at his disposal, yet not many people know that he suffered from severe insomnia. Before our marriage, even after taking pills, he would remain awake until dawn. However, once we got married and became indispensable to each other, he started sleeping just in time. He even gave me a cute nickname, endearingly saying, ‘Saira, you are my sleeping pill, you are my pillow’. To this day, I burst into laughter remembering the charm with which he would say it."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saira Banu Khan (@sairabanu)

The Junglee actor added, “There was another memorable incident when he wrote me a note. He had a deep appreciation for music and would often have a whole Darbar set up in our home, witnessing the magic created by the artists. Sahib, ever so efficiently, would often sneak away from the Darbar to get some sleep. On one such evening, despite managing to sneak away, he found himself unable to sleep without me. So, he penned a note saying, ‘Feeling sleepy, what do you suggest, Aunty? ...Yours 100%’.”

Banu said Kumar has a good relationship with the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and other eminent personalities from different fields.

“Sahib has been the best of friends to the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Sahab, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sahab, Narsimha Rao Sahab, alongside the leading lawyers, economists, and Industrialists, etc. He has been a die-hard supporter of sportsmen. He played football and cricket with great ease. In fact, he would have wanted to be a sportsman of national level rather than what destiny had in store for him," she added.

She continued, “I am expressing my Love by writing this note to thank all of his admirers and fans, well-wishers, dearest friends and family who take the trouble of sending us lovely messages on occasions. It makes me happy that they all remember our important dates and pray for his well-being in the hereafter for Dilip Sahib is an inspiration for six generations of actors as also for the coming generations."

The Shagird actor called Kumar a “fun-loving person”.

She concluded with, “Dilip Sahib is forever....May Allah keep him in his love and blessings...Aameen!”

Born on December 11, 1922, Kumar started his acting career with the 1944 movie Jwar Bhata (1944). Later, he was seen in Jugnu, Andaz, Aan, Daag, Azaad, Madhumati, Devdas, Kohinoor, Mughal-E-Azam, Gunga Jumna and Naya Daur , among others.

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New Delhi: When one thinks of legendary actor Dilip Kumar, one film and two actors definitely come to mind: Mughal-e-Azam , Madhubala, and Saira Banu. What most seem to miss is his father’s disappointment with his chosen career. Kumar’s father had lofty dreams for him, but not in the world of cinema. He was disappointed when his actor son, born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan, took on his screen name.

This lesser-heard story took centre stage during the second performance of director Yaqub Ghauri and playwright Sadia Rahman’s 60-minute theatre voice presentation, Kuch Kahi Kuch Ankahi .

The theatrical reading featured lyrical dialogues interspersed with lively narration. Seated beside each other on a well-lit stage, Ghauri and Rahman voiced all characters of the narrative, building off of each other’s energy.

The CD Deshmukh Auditorium at India International Centre (IIC) was packed with about 100 audience members, most of them elderly, eager to hear their beloved star’s life story. “We came because we belong to that generation,” said Asha Gambhir, who was out on a ‘nostalgic trip’ with two friends.

Ghauri began the story with the arrival of cinema in pre-Independence India. At the time, Kumar’s father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar Khan—called Aghaji by his children—lived in Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani Bazaar — a ‘Market of Storytellers’. He was a fruit merchant who wished his son to be a learned member of society, earning a marker of class that surpassed mere wealth.

Aghaji wanted his son to enrol in the civil services and earn the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), a high honour during the British Raj. 

In Ghauri’s narrative, Aghaji saw cinema as a degeneration of social values and the traditional way of telling a story as a dastaan or a qissa . When Prithviraj Kapoor, son of his neighbour Dewan Basheswarnath Singh Kapoor—who possessed the much-desired OBE badge—took up acting, he voiced his disappointment frankly.

As luck would have it, World War II forced Aghaji to relocate his family to Bombay, home to one of the busiest film industries around.

Also read: Dilip Kumar was the First Khan of Bollywood, the Prince Salim of our hearts: Shobhaa De

From Yusuf to Dilip

Kumar didn’t have a lifelong dream of becoming an actor; he wanted to pursue soccer. But he was handsome, charming, and well-spoken, and the industry found its way to him. Ghauri and Rahman enacted an amusing exchange between a young Kumar and Raj Kapoor that hinted at what was to come.

“ O laale, tussi bade handsome ho, actor ban jao (My friend, you’re very handsome, become an actor),” read out Ghauri as Raj Kapoor.

“ Are dialogues kaun bolega? Bataur tumhare main toh aisa ghabraata hoon ki bolna bhool jaata hoon (Who will say the lines? As you like to remind me, I get so scared that I forget to speak)!”

“ Main tennu train kar diyanga; ye soch ki Aghaji kya kahenge (I could train you, but think what Aghaji will say)!”

Cut off from Peshawar after Partition, Aghaji quietly endured the loss of his homeland and his business suffered the loss of their fruit gardens. It was up to Kumar to handle the family’s finances.

When he ran into well-known psychologist Dr Masrani at Churchgate Railway Station and told him that he was looking for a job, he didn’t expect to be carried off to Bombay Talkies for an interview with producer Devika Rani. Ghauri used a sher to describe how Rani couldn’t take her eyes off him, having spotted a diamond in the rough.

“ Bataur mir mahaul kuchh aisa tha ki woh aaye bazm mein itna toh Mir ne dekha, phir uske baad chiragon mein roshni na rahi (It so happened that they walked into the gathering, and after that there was no longer light in the lamps),” Ghauri recited, and the audience broke out into an appreciative, “ Kya baat! ”

“ Urdu jaante ho (Do you know Urdu)?” Rani asked Dilip Kumar.

“ Ji (Yes),” replied Kumar.

“ Actor banoge (Will you become an actor)?”

“ Nahi (No),” he exclaimed, explaining that he had only ever watched one film—a war documentary—and that he knew nothing about acting. 

Rani assured Kumar that he could learn to act on the job, offering him a monthly salary of Rs 1,250. At a time when Raj, son of star Prithviraj Kapoor, earned Rs 175 per month, this figure was astounding. It was the solution to his family’s financial problems and a more lucrative opportunity than Kumar would ever get.

As is widely known, he signed a contract with Bombay Talkies and Devika Rani gave him his screen name, Dilip Kumar.

Also read: When Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari played Romans in Bimal Roy’s 1958 film Yahudi

An ache in heart

Kumar kept his acting career a secret from Aghaji for four years. It was Dewan Kapoor who pointed his father to a poster of Jugnu (1947), exposing Kumar. Enraged, the father stopped talking to his son entirely, going about his day as if Kumar didn’t exist.

Rahman narrated that Aghaji did eventually resume talking to Kumar, but their relationship was never the same. When his dream died, it took some of the love for his son with it.

Rahman was drawn to the story because she gathered from Kumar’s autobiography, Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow , that he didn’t seem to think of himself as successful despite being one of the most successful actors of his time.

“There was an ache in his heart about not having completed his father’s wish . So, no one is complete in this world,” Rahman told ThePrint.

(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)

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