Dilip Kumar, also known as the Tragedy King, was one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he was a prominent figure in the Golden Era of Indian Cinema. Despite starting out as a canteen owner, he quickly established himself as an emotive character actor and became renowned for his portrayal of tragic roles. Dilip Kumar was the first actor to receive a Filmfare Best Actor Award, winning it eight times throughout his illustrious career.
Quick Facts
- Indian Celebrities Born In December Also Known As: Muhammad Yusuf Khan
- Died At Age: 98
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Saira Banu (m. 1966–2021), Asma Rehman (m. 1981–1983), Saira Banu (m. 1966–2021), father: Lala Ghulam Sarwar, mother: Ayesha Begum, siblings: Akhtar Asif, Ayub Sarwar, Nasir Khan, Noor Mohammed
- Born Country: India
- Actors
- T V & Movie Producers
- Height: 5’10” (178 cm), 5’10” Males
- Died on: July 7, 2021
- Place of death: Mumbai Maharastra, India
- City: Peshawar, Pakistan
- Awards: 1954 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Daag), 1956 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Azaad), 1957 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Devdas), 1958 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Naya Daur), 1961 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Kohinoor), 1965 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Leader), 1968 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Ram Aur Shyam), 1983 – Filmfare Best Actor Award (Shakti)
Childhood & Early Life
Dilip Kumar, originally named Muhammad Yusuf Khan, was born into a Pashtun family in Peshawar, which is now in Pakistan. His father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar, was a fruit merchant. Dilip Kumar received his primary education from the prestigious Barnes School in Deolali. During the 1930s, his large family relocated to Mumbai in search of a better future for the children. In the early 1940s, Dilip Kumar went to Pune, where he operated a canteen and supplemented his income by supplying dry fruit.
Career
In 1943, Dilip Kumar had the opportunity to meet actress Devika Rani and her husband Himanshu Rai. Rai, who owned Bombay Talkies, selected Dilip Kumar for the lead role in their film ‘Jwar Bhata’, which was released in 1944. It was during this time that he acquired the screen name Dilip Kumar. He continued to star in several movies, including ‘Jugnu’ in 1947, which was his first major hit. After the success of ‘Jugnu’, Dilip Kumar received numerous movie offers and appeared in several films in 1948, such as ‘Shaheed’, ‘Mela’, and ‘Anokha Pyar’. His breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan’s ‘Andaz’ in 1949, which became the top-grossing film in India at that time.
Throughout the 1950s, Dilip Kumar played tragic roles in films like ‘Jogan’ (1950), ‘Deedar’ (1951), and ‘Daag’ (1952), establishing himself as a tragic hero. In 1955, he portrayed the title role in “Devdas”, which is considered one of his best-known works. The 1960s brought more success for Dilip Kumar, with notable films like ‘Kohinoor’ (1960), ‘Gunga Jumna’ (1961), ‘Dil Diya Dard Liya’ (1966), ‘Ram Aur Shyam’ (1967), and ‘Aadmi’ (1968).
During the 1970s, Dilip Kumar’s career faltered as newer actors gained popularity. He appeared in only a few films during this time and took a five-year hiatus. However, he made a successful comeback in 1981 with the film ‘Kranti’. In the following decades, he played roles more suited to his age and appeared in numerous films as the father or grandfather of the young protagonists. His last film appearance was in ‘Qila’ in 1998, in which he played dual roles.
Major Works
One of Dilip Kumar’s most well-known works is the film ‘Devdas’, a love triangle that revolves around the doomed love of Devdas and Paro. The movie won him a Filmfare Award and was ranked among the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films by Indiatimes Movies in 2005. Another notable film is ‘Kohinoor’, in which he played a light-hearted role opposite Meena Kumari. Dilip Kumar won a Filmfare Award for his performance in this film. ‘Ram Aur Shyam’ is also a famous film in which he played dual roles of twin brothers.
Awards & Achievements
Dilip Kumar received eight Filmfare Best Actor Awards, which is a record he shares with Shah Rukh Khan. He was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India, by the Government of India in 1991. He also received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.
Personal Life & Legacy
Dilip Kumar was in a romantic relationship with actress Madhubala, but they had to end their relationship due to opposition from Madhubala’s father. He married actress Saira Banu in 1966, and they had a second marriage with Asma in 1981, which ended in divorce in 1983. Dilip Kumar served as a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006. He passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98, after battling prostate cancer.
Trivia
Dilip Kumar went into a depression after playing several tragic roles and was advised by his psychiatrist to take on light-hearted roles. He also held the Guinness World Record for the maximum number of awards won by an Indian actor.