Dilip Kumar is an iconic name in the Indian film industry. Apart from entertaining the audience by acting only in films, Dileep made himself a respectable person in the country through those roles. Dilip Kumar’s original name was Muhammad Yusuf Khan but he was known as Dilip Kumar all over the world. He was born in present day Lahore in Pakistan. He was one of 12 siblings. Father was a fruit seller and moneylender, so the family was prosperous. He owned orchards in Devalali, Peshawar and Nashik. Dilip Kumar did his primary education at Barnes School in Deolali itself. Actor Raj Kapoor is a childhood friend of Dilip Kumar. Both of them went on to dominate the Hindi film industry. He was known as the Tragedy King in Hindi cinema. He has dominated the film industry for six decades with his acting. During this period he acted in 63 films. He established a new dimension in the field of acting with his work. Jwarbhata (1944) was his first film and Kila (1998) was his last film. Dilip Kumar took a break from acting for five years after 1976. He made a comeback only with an amazing film like Kranti. Films like Shakti, Mashaal, Karma, Saudagar, which still enthrall the audience, proved that the magic of Dilip Kumar is still there. Dilip Kumar has many superhit movies like Andaz, Aan, Daag, Devdas, Azad, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jamuna, Ram Aur Sham, Kranti, Shakti, Mashaal, Karma, Saudagar to his credit. He has numerous fans not only in India but also in Pakistan.
Entry in film industry & Film carrier of Dilip Kumar :
In 1943 Dr. Dilip Kumar met with Masani. Dr.Masani took him to Bombay Talkies in Malad. There, Dilip Kumar met Bombay Talkies owner and actress Devikarani. Devikarani hired him at Rs.1250 per month. Dilip Kumar met the great actor Ashok Kumar. Ashok Kumar was of the opinion that acting should be natural. He had a great influence on Dilip Kumar. Dilip Kumar had a very good command of Urdu. Because of that, he initially got a script writing job in Bombay Talkies. Devikarani requested him to name Dilip Kumar instead of Yusuf Kumar and in 1944, within a year, cast him as an actor in the film Jwarbhata. This was the entry of a superstar in the film industry. Tide turned out to be a flop. Still some early films turned out to be flops. But Dilip Kumar did not give up. Three years passed like this. However, the 1947 film Juganu starring Noor Jahan became a hit. The following year two films Shaheed and Mela were also hits at the box office.
In the 1950s to 1960s, Dilip Kumar gave many famous films like Jogan, Babul, Husla, Didar, Tarana, Daag, Sangdil, Shikast, Amar, Udan Khatola, Insaniyat. He won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the 1985 film Daag. Devdas with Devanand also belonged to the same decade. Dilip Kumar gave many successful films like Naya Daur, Madhumati, Yehudi, Paigam. He also got the title of Tragedy King in this decade. But this privilege continued to prove dangerous. Dilip Kumar himself succumbed to depression in the midst of delving into so many mournful characters. After consulting a psychiatrist, he started doing light films. He played a comedy role in Aan in 1952. The premiere of the film was also held in London. The role of a thief in Azad, the role of a prince in the romantic Kohinoor made a home in the hearts of fans.
Between 1955 and 1959, he continued to work in films like a ghost. Acting flourished. People applauded and whistled at the dialogue. The songs got stuck in people’s minds along with acting. Among the top 30 highest-grossing films of this decade, 9 films belonged to Dilip Kumar. Dilip Kumar used to charge Rs 1 lakh for a film at that time. That means if we consider the current rupee valuation, it goes to Rs 1 crore.
Awards got by Dilip Kumar :
Dilip Kumar has also won eight Filmfare Awards for Best Actor. He is noted as one of the greatest actors in Hindi cinema. He holds the record for the most awarded actor in the Guernsey Book of Records. The Government of India has honored him first with the Padma Bhushan (1991) and later the Padma Vibhushan (2015). Apart from this, he also received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994. Pakistan has been honored with ‘Nishan-e-Imtiaaz’, the highest civilian honor of Pakistan. Balasaheb Thackeray opposed its acceptance. Raised a question mark about his patriotism. Dilip Kumar accepted this award only after consulting with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Dilip Kumar narrated his life journey to Udayatara Nair. After that, Dilip Kumar’s autobiography titled The Substance and the Shadow was released. During the period 2000-2006, he has held the post of MP in the Rajya Sabha.
Dilip Kumar’s personal life :
Dilip Kumar’s personal life was equally romantic. He did not marry Madhubala, but had a relationship for many years. After the film Naya Daur, both of them got into trouble. There was also a trial in the court. Vyjayanthimala was the actress in Dilipkumar’s most films. Looking at the on-screen chemistry, both of them seemed like lovers in real life. After Madhubala and Kamini Kaushal, only Vyjayanthima’s name was associated with Dilip Kumar. In 1966, he married actress Sairabanu. She was 22 years younger than Dilip Kumar. In 1981, he got married secondly to Asma Jahangir of Hyderabad. But the marriage broke up within two years. Sairabanu, however, supported Dilipkumar till his last breath. Neither had children. But they continued to love each other till the end of their lives.
Dilip Kumar was not only an actor but also produced some films. His help and charity were also noticed in the world. Dilip Kumar was a fighter. There were many ups and downs in his life. But he successfully overcame it. Even at the age of 98, he returned home after overcoming his illness. That means even at this age his determination was extreme. An era has come to an end with the passing of such a great actor. But Dilip’s memories will stay with us forever. Even though Dilip Kumar is not with us today, he will always be immortalized through his films, acting and songs.