Legendry actor Dilip Kumar passes away

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar passed away, his heirs confirmed the death of actor on his Twitter account.

According to Indian media, 98-year-old Dilip Kumar was shifted to a private hospital in Mumbai due to breathing problem.

Dilip Kumar’s Dr. Jalil Palkar said that the legend actor passed away at 7.30 pm Indian time.

Dilip Kumar’s Twitter account reported that the actor’s funeral will be held at a local cemetery in Mumbai.

Yousuf Khan, popularly known as Dilip Kumar, was born in 1922 in the Khudadad Mohilla  of Peshawar and his family home still exists in Peshawar today.

He performed in more than 65 films over five decades and was known as the King of Tragedy.

The late Dilip Kumar was awarded the Dada Sahib Phalki Award, the highest award for Indian film. He was awarded the Nishan Pakistan by the Pakistan government in 1998.

Dilip Kumar dominated Indian cinema from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Fruit seller’s son to legend

Dilip Kumar was the fourth of his parents’ 12 children. Dilip Kumar’s parents named him Yusuf Khan, which he changed to ‘Dilip Kumar’ after stepping into the film world.

In April 1953, Dilip Kumar told the BBC in an exclusive interview about the beginning of his film journey that he was born in a fruit seller’s house and had started his career as a manager in the Bombay Army canteen but luck had set something else for him.

He said that actress Devika Rani, owner of popular film studio Bombay Talkies, asked him to consider becoming an actor, which surprised him as he had seen only one film in his life and it was also a documentary on war.

Despite his reluctance, he accepted the offer because he was in dire need of money.

Dilip Kumar was introduced to Indian actor Devika Rani by his former teacher. The Bombay Talkies not only changed his destiny but also changed his name and he became Dilip Kumar from Yousuf Khan.

Actoress Devika Rani advised Dilip Kumar to hide his Muslim identity and take a new Hindu name as Rani believed that the Hindu name would help Dilip Kumar to succeed in his film career in India.

Dilip Kumar started his film career in 1944 with the film ‘Jowar Bhata’ but made his true identity in the film industry in 1960 by playing the role of Prince Saleem in the historical film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’.

During his film career, Dilip Kumar has performed Mughal Azam, Milan, Jagnu, Shaheed, Across the River, Andaz, Jogan, Babylon, Arzoo, Tarana, Hulchal, Deedar, Sangdal, Dagh, On, Shakst, Footpath, Amar, Uran Khatola Show the essence of excellent acting in many timeless films including Insanity, Devdas, New Era, Message, Koh-i-Noor, Ganga Jumna, Shakti.