Legendary Bollywood actor and industry icon Dilip Kumar passed away at the age of 98 in Mumbai on Wednesday (today),
The news of veteran actor’s demise was confirmed via his official twitter account – “With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago,” read the statement issued by Faisal Farooqi, a family friend of the late actor.
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Dilip Kumar was being treated for age-related medical issues at Mumbai’s Hinduja hospital. However; he breathed his last and passed away around 7:30 am at the age of 98.
The late actor is survived by his wife Saira Banu.
According to family sources, Dilip Kumar’s last rites will be performed at Mumbai’s Juhu cemetery at 5 pm today.
The Legacy Of Bollywood’s ‘Tragedy King’
Born ‘Mohammed Yusuf Khan’ in Peshawar (British India), Dilip Kumar (screen name given by Hindi author Bhagwati Charan Varma) debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944. However, he got his ‘big break’ from the movie Jugnu (1947) in which he co-starred with world famous singer Noor Jehan.
Known as ‘The Tragedy King’ because of the depressing but award winning roles he took up for the movies depicting tragedy, Dilip Kumar is considered as the most notable icon of film industry and has left a lasting impression, legacy on the showbiz industry.
He holds the Guinness World Record for winning the maximum number of awards by an Indian actor. He received many awards throughout his career, including eight Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and One Lifetime Achievement for Filmfare Also for Special Recognition FilmFare Award for recognising him as one first recipients to receive a Filmfare Award along with the nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar and one of the greatest Hindi Music Directors Naushad Ali at the 50th Filmfare Award Ceremony and along with 19 nominations at Filmfare for best actor.
He was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.
Ganga Jamna (1961), which he wrote, produced, and starred in, also received the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film in Hindi, the Paul Revere Silver Bowl at the Boston International Film Festival, the Special Honour Diploma from the Czechoslovak Academy of Arts in Prague, and the Special Prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Many great actors including Shah Rukh Khan consider Kumar as their inspiration. Kumar was also known as
His other notable achievements, awards include;
- 2015 – India’s second-highest civilian award, the ‘Padma Vibhushan’, for his contributions towards Indian cinema
- 2000–2006 – Elected to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament.
- 1994 – ‘Dadasaheb Phalke’ Award
- 1991 – India’s third highest civilian award, the ‘Padma Bhushan’, for his contributions towards Indian cinema
- 1979–1982 – Appointed as the Sheriff of Bombay by the Governor of Maharashtra, India for the period
- 1998 – Government of Pakistan honored him with its highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence).
Till 2000s Kumar was the only actors to have won 8 Filmfare Best Actor Awards until his record was shared by Shahrukh Khan by mid 2000s.
From the Independence of India to late 2010s Kumar held the record of giving the highest number of box office grossing films (9 films) until his record was broken by Salman Khan by delivering 10 films.
His historical movie Mughal-E-Azam is the highest-grossing film (equivalent to 2000 crores in 2015) in India when adjusted for inflation.
Condolences Pour In
Following the Dilip Kumar’s demise showbiz stars, politicians and celebrities from both India and Pakistan took to social media to offer condolences and pay homage to the legendary actor.
Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar’s passing…For my generation, Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor, said PM Imran Khan.
President Arif Alvi also offered condolences to Kumar’s family terming the late actor as an ‘outstanding actor, humble man and a dignified personality’.
Indian PM Narendra Modi also paid homage to the deceased actor terming his death as ‘a loss to cultural world’, praising him for his ‘unparalleled brilliance’ and saying that he will be remembered as a ‘cinematic legend’.
Dilip Kumar’s his spectacular performance in some of Indian cinema’s most iconic and landmark films including Naya Daur, Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Ram Aur Shyam, Andaz, Deedar, Daagh, Azad, and Ganga Jamuna.
Kumar’s illustrious career spanned several decades and nearly 65 films. He transitioned from playing the romantic-tragic lead to character roles from the ’80s on, in films such as Kranti, Shakti, Karma and Saudagar. 1998’s Qila was his last film.
