BOLLYWOOD LEGEND DILIP KUMAR DIES AT 98

Wed 07 July 2021:

Legendary Indian actor, Popularly known as the ‘Tragedy King’ of Bollywood, Dilip Kumar, passed away today (Wednesday, 7 July) at the age of 98.

“With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, a few minutes ago,” said a tweet from Kumar’s Twitter account. “We are from God and to Him we return. Faisal Farooqui.”

Farooqui is Dilip Kumar’s family friend.

Dr. Jalil Parker, the doctor treating him, told the media outside the hospital that the actor passed away at 7:30 a.m. IST.

On Monday, Kumar’s wife Saira Banu Khan in a tweet said that the Bollywood star’s health “is improving.”

“We are still in hospital and request your prayers and duas so that Insha’Allah he is healthy and discharged soon,” she had said.

He was admitted to a hospital in the Khar suburb of the financial capital Mumbai last week “to address medical issues.”

“Dilip Saab has been admitted to Hinduja Hospital, Khar to address medical issues related to illness which are frequently expected in a 98 year old. Your love and prayers are truly appreciated by Saab,” a tweet from Kumar’s account said on June 30.

Having won a number of awards, Kumar’s career spanned more than five decades.

The death of Kumar has left everyone in the country mourning and tributes have started pouring in.

“The greatest. There will never be another Dilip Kumar,” wrote Indian film director Hansal Mehta.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the famous actor will be remembered as a “cinematic legend,” and his death is a “loss to our cultural world.”

“He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP.”

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.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent