Dilip Kumar

Dilip Kumar (born December 11, 1922, Peshawar, British India [now in Pakistan]—died July 7, 2021, Mumbai, India) was an Indian actor and one of the legendary stars of Bollywood. With his low-key, naturalistic acting style, he excelled in a wide range of roles. In addition to his acting, he was noted for his good looks, deep voice, and fine accent. He is regarded as a pioneer of method acting in Indian cinema and has been cited by later stars, such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, as a major influence and inspiration.

Early life and career

Yusuf Khan was born into a Pashtun family of 12 children in Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan). He moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) and began working in a British army canteen, where he was noticed by Devika Rani, a leading actress of the time, and her husband, Himanshu Rai, who hired him to act for the Bombay Talkies, a film company they owned. Dilip Kumar, his chosen stage name, made his acting debut with the film Jwar Bhata (1944; “High and Low Tide”), but it was not until a few years later that he had a box-office hit, with the film Jugnu (1947; “Firefly”). In 1949 he costarred with Raj Kapoor and Nargis in director Mehboob Khan’s film Andaz (“Style”), which catapulted him to stardom.

Critical and commercial success

Kumar starred in many of Indian cinema’s most acclaimed works as well as in some of its biggest hits. In films such as Naya Daur (1957; “The New Era”), made after India achieved independence from British rule in 1947, he was hailed for portraying the challenges and struggles of ordinary citizens of a newly formed country. With Kapoor and Dev Anand, he made up a trinity of actors that dominated Bollywood in its golden age. He was noted for his commitment to his roles, whether dedicating himself to mastering a regional accent or learning to play an instrument.

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As his career progressed he played a string of ill-fated characters in films such as Deedar (1951; “Meeting”) and Daag (1952; “Stain”)—for which he received the first of eight Filmfare Awards for best actor—and Devdas (1955). His screen persona acquired mournful overtones, and he was known as the “king of tragedy.” Eventually, he opted for a brighter image, playing swashbuckling heroes in such films as Aan (1953; “Pride”), Azaad (1955; “Free”), Insaniyat (1955; “Humane”), and Kohinoor (1960).

In the blockbuster Mughal-e-Azam (1960; “The Grand Mughal”), set in the 16th century, Kumar played crown prince Salim, son of the great Mughal emperor Akbar. His other memorable films include Bimal Roy’s Madhumati (1958) and Nitin Bose’s Gunga Jumna (1961). He played the dual role of identical twins separated at birth in Ram Aur Shyam (1967; “Ram and Shyam”), creating the template for a Bollywood trope that would later be successfully repeated in films such as Seeta Aur Geeta (1972; “Seeta and Geeta”) and Chaalbaaz (1989; “Trickster”), starring actresses Hema Malini and Sridevi, respectively.

Later career

Kumar’s career spiraled into a slump in the 1970s, coinciding with the rise of actors such as Rajesh Khanna and Bachchan. He starred in films such as Sagina (1974) and Bairaag (1976; “Renunciation”) with his wife, Saira Banu, and, while his performances were well reviewed, the movies failed at the box office. After an extended hiatus, he made a comeback with actor-director Manoj Kumar’s film Kranti (1981; “Revolution”). Thereafter he played key roles in Subhash Ghai’s Vidhaata (1982; “Creator”), Karma (1986), and Saudagar (1991; “Merchant”). He was also noted for his performance in Ramesh Sippy’s Shakti (1982; “Strength”). Kumar’s last film was the family drama Qila (1998; “Fort”).

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Personal life

Kumar allegedly had a seven-year romantic relationship with actress Madhubala, his costar in films such as Tarana (1951; “Anthem”). The actors were cast opposite each other in Naya Daur, by which time the romance is believed to have been on the verge of ending. After filming for about 10 days, Madhubala’s father refused her permission to travel to an outstation shoot. Director B.R. Chopra replaced her with actress Vyjayanthimala, after which Madhubala’s father, Ataullah Khan, sued him. A well-publicized court case followed in which the stars took opposing sides—Madhubala supported her father, and Kumar testified against them, in support of Chopra.

In 1966 Kumar married actress Saira Banu, with whom he costarred in a series of unsuccessful films. He had three younger brothers, of whom one, Nasir Khan, was also an actor. Kumar shared a close friendship with actor and director Raj Kapoor, who also moved to Mumbai from Peshawar, where their families had been neighbors.

Legacy

Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan share the record for the most wins for best actor—eight each—in the history of the Filmfare Awards. In 1994 Kumar received a Filmfare Award for lifetime achievement. The following year he was given the Dadasaheb Phalke award, India’s highest award for cinematic excellence. He received two of India’s highest civilian awards—the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015. In 1998 he was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, becoming the second Indian (after Morarji Desai) to receive the honor. That same year he announced his intention to retire from acting. From 2000 to 2006 he served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of India’s bicameral parliament.