Dilip Kumar (1922-2021)

 

Mohammed Yusuf Khan, well known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor and film producer (11 December 1922 - 7 July 2021), who worked in Hindi cinema.

Who was Dilip Kumar?

Dilip Kumar, widely known as the Tragedy King, was one of the greatest actors to ever grace Indian film. Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan, he went by the screen name Dilip Kumar to follow in the footsteps of early Hindi film legends. The legendary actor had a lengthy and distinguished career that spanned five decades and was regarded as one of the most important figures of India's 'Golden Era of Cinema.' In the 1940s, when Bollywood was still in its infancy, he entered the world of Hindi cinema. His journey into acting happened by chance—he was working as a canteen owner when he met actress Devika Rani and was offered a role in a film.

Despite the fact that his debut film did not do well, by the end of the decade, he had established himself as an emotional character actor. Despite the fact that he was a talented actor who could play a variety of characters with equal intensity and efficiency, he was best renowned for playing tragic roles in films such as "Jogan," "Deedar," and "Devdas," earning him the name "Tragedy King." Dilip Kumar holds the distinction of being the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award, which he received eight times throughout the course of his career.

Childhood & Early Life

Muhammad Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar's real name, was born in Peshawar to a Pashtun family (now in Pakistan). Lala Ghulam Sarwar, his father, was a fruit merchant. He attended the elite Barnes School in Deolali for his primary education.

During the 1930s, his huge family moved to Mumbai in quest of a brighter future for their children.

Dilip Kumar moved to Pune in the early 1940s and started a canteen there. Dry fruit was one of the ways he supplemented his income.

Career

In 1943, Dilip Kumar met actress Devika Rani and her husband Himanshu Rai. Rai was the proprietor of Bombay Talkies, and the husband-and-wife team chose Dilip Kumar to play the lead part in their 1944 film "Jwar Bhata." He went by the screen name Dilip Kumar during this time.

In 1947, he played Sooraj in the film ‘Jugnu,' which also featured Noor Jehan and Shashikala. The picture was a smash hit, and it is remembered as the great actor's first huge hit.

Following the success of ‘Jugnu,' Dilip Kumar was inundated with film offers and starred in a number of films in 1948, including ‘Shaheed,' ‘Mela,' and ‘Anokha Pyar,' the latter of which was a great smash.

In 1949, he made his major break with Mehboob Khan's film "Andaz." It was a love triangle starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The film went on to become the highest-grossing film in India at the time.

He had a tremendously productive decade in the 1950s. His image as a tragic hero began to emerge during this period, as he played sad characters in films such as "Jogan" (1950), "Deedar" (1951), and "Daag" (1952).

In 1955, he starred as the titular character in "Devdas," a love drama starring Vyjayanthimala and Suchitra Sen. His portrayal of an obsessive lover who ruins his life by drinking is frequently seen as the tragic lover's pinnacle.

In 1957, he starred opposite Vyjayanthimala in the drama film "Naya Daur." The drama was set against the backdrop of India's post-independence industrialization. The film was a big commercial success.

After achieving superstardom in the 1950s, he ushered in the 1960s with a stunning performance as Yuvraj Rana Devendra Bahadur in "Kohinoor" (1960), for which he earned a Filmfare Best Actor Award.

He had a good decade in the 1960s, though not as successful as the previous decade. ‘Gunga Jumna' (1961), ‘Dil Diya Dard Liya' (1966), ‘Ram Aur Shyam' (1967), and ‘Aadmi' were his notable films (1968).

During the 1970s, Dilip Kumar's career stalled as fresh actors like Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan gained fame. He only appeared in a few films that did not fare well at the box office, including ‘Gopi' (1970), ‘Sagina' (1974), and ‘Bairaag' (1976). Following this, he took a five-year break.

In 1981, he made a successful comeback with the multi-starrer ‘Kranti,' which included Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Prem Chopra, Shatrughan Sinha, and Paintal, among others.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he began to play roles that were more appropriate for his age. He played the father or grandfather of the young characters in a number of films. His last film appearance was in the 1998 picture ‘Qila,' in which he portrayed two characters.

Major Works

Dilip Kumar's film "Devdas," a love triangle centered on Devdas and Paro's tragic love, is one of his most well-known works. The film earned him a Filmfare Award and was named one of Indiatimes Movies' Top 25 Must-See Bollywood Films in 2005.

His film ‘Kohinoor,' in which he co-starred with Meena Kumari, was a rare light-hearted role for him. The film is known for its comedic sequences, and Dilip Kumar received a Filmfare Award for his performance.

‘Ram Aur Shyam,' a film in which he played twin siblings who are separated at birth and eventually reunited, is a well-known film that has inspired several of the Hindi remakes.

Awards & Achievements

Dilip Kumar has won eight Filmfare Best Actor Awards, which he shares with Shah Rukh Khan for the most.

In 1991, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award.

In 1993, he was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal Life & Legacy

Dilip Kumar had a romantic relationship with actress Madhubala, but they had to break up since her father was against their marriage.

He married Saira Banu, a much younger actress, in 1966 when he was 44 and she was 22 years old.

In 1981, he married Asma for the second time, however, the marriage was short-lived and terminated in divorce in 1983.

From 2000 until 2006, he was a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

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

Trivia

After performing multiple tragic roles, Dilip Kumar developed depression and was encouraged by his therapist to explore lighter roles.

He holds the Guinness World Record for most accolades received by an Indian actor.