Dilip Kumar, the Tragedy King of Bollywood, left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. His career spanned over six decades, witnessing and shaping the evolution of the industry. This post explores his life, career, and lasting legacy.

Biography/Wiki

Muhammad Yusuf Khan, known as Dilip Kumar, was born on December 11, 1922, in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), British India. His father was a fruit merchant. He received his primary education in Nasik, Maharashtra, where he befriended Raj Kapoor, another future Bollywood star. At 18, following a disagreement with his father, he moved to Poona (present-day Pune).

His resourcefulness led him to a job, initially running a sandwich stall at an Army Club in Pune. With his savings of ?5000, he relocated to Mumbai. In 1942, a chance encounter with Dr. Masani led him to Bombay Talkies, where Devika Rani, the studio’s owner, signed him, changing his name to Dilip Kumar and giving him a salary of ?1250 per month. He also benefited from the guidance of Ashok Kumar, who mentored him on his acting style.

Family

Dilip Kumar was born to Lala Ghulam Sarwar and Ayesha Begum. He grew up in a modest Peshawar home with eleven siblings: five brothers (Nasir Khan, Ehsan Khan, Aslam Khan, Noor Mohammed, and Ayub Sarwar) and six sisters (Fauzia Khan, Sakina Khan, Taj Khan, Farida Khan, Saeeda Khan, and Akhtar Asif). Sadly, Saeeda Khan passed away in September 2023.

His marital life included two marriages. He married actress Saira Banu on October 11, 1966. Later, in 1980, he married Asma Rehman, though this marriage ended in 1983. He had no children.

Career

Dilip Kumar’s acting debut was in 1944 with the film Jwar Bhata. His breakthrough role came in 1949 with Mehboob Khan’s Andaz. The 1950s saw him star in numerous iconic films like Babul, Jogan, Deedar, Hulchul, Daag, Shikast, Amar, Insaniyat, Uran Khatola, Devdas, Naya Daur, Madhumati, and Yahudi.

His portrayal of Prince Salim in K. Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was a landmark performance, making the film a box office record-breaker for over a decade. His last major box-office success was Saudagar (1991), while Qila (1998) marked his final film.

Relationships & More

Early in his career, Dilip Kumar was linked to actress Kamini Kaushal. His relationship with Madhubala was highly publicized, lasting seven years before ending due to professional disagreements. His marriage to Saira Banu, who was significantly younger, was a well-known part of his personal life.

Awards/Honours/Achievements

Dilip Kumar’s accolades are numerous. He held a Guinness World Record for the most awards won by an Indian actor, including eight Filmfare Best Actor awards and a Lifetime Achievement award. He also received the Padma Bhushan, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the NTR National Award, and the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Pakistan’s highest civilian award).

Net Worth

At the time of his passing, Dilip Kumar’s net worth was estimated to be $85 million.

Death

Dilip Kumar passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98, at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital following a period of illness. His passing was widely mourned.

Interesting Facts

Dilip Kumar shared close friendships with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. He transitioned from his “Tragedy King” image with the help of professional guidance. He produced one film, Ganga Jamuna (1961), which featured his brother Nasir Khan. He turned down a role in David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia. He starred with Saira Banu for the first time in Gopi (1970). He served as a Rajya Sabha member. His Bandra property was later sold for a significant sum.

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