Muhammad Yusuf Khan11 December 1922 (age 90)
Peshawar, British India, now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Residence Mumbai, India
Nationality Indian
Ethnicity Hindko-speaking Peshawari Pashtun[1][2]
Occupation Film actor
Producer
Politician
Years active 1944–1998
Spouse(s) Saira Banu (1966 - present)
Asmaa (1982)
Awards Padma Bhushan
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Nishan-e-Imtiaz
Signature Dilip Kumar signature
Dilip Kumar (born 11 December 1922, as Muhammad Yusuf Khan) is an Indian film actor known as Tragedy King,[3] and described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray.[4] He debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944 produced by Bombay Talkies. His career has spanned six decades and over 60 films. Critics acclaimed him among one of the greatest actors in the history of Hindi cinema.[5][6][7] In a blog post, Amitabh Bachchan has described Dilip Kumar as the greatest actor ever.[8]
Kumar starred in films of a variety of genres such as the romantic Andaz (1949), the swashbuckling Aan (1952), the dramatic Devdas (1955), the comical Azaad (1955), the historical Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and the social Ganga Jamuna (1961).
In 1976, Dilip Kumar took a five-year break from film performances and returned with a character role in the film Kranti (1981) and continued his career playing character roles in films such as Shakti (1982), Karma (1986) and Saudagar
(1991). His last film was Qila (1998). Dilip Kumar has acted with actress Vyjayanthimala the most, where they both had acted seven films together including the former's home production Gunga Jamuna resulting in great on-screen chemistry and an alleged affair between them.[9][10]
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan award in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 for his contributions towards Indian cinema and nominated him to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament for a term. He is the first recipient of Filmfare Best Actor Award (1954) and shares the record for the most number of Filmfare awards won for that category with Shahrukh Khan with eight wins.[11]
Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career
3 Public life
4 Personal life
5 Awards and popularity
6 Filmography
7 References
8 External links
Early life[edit source | editbeta]
Kumar was born into a Hindko-speaking Peshawari Pashtun family of 12 children[1][2] on 11 December 1922 in the Qissa Khawani Bazaar area of Peshawar, in what is now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. His birth name is Muhammad Yousuf Khan. His father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar, was a fruit merchant who owned orchards in Peshawar and Deolali (in Maharashtra, India). Dilip Kumar did schooling from prestigious Barnes school in Deolali near Nasik.In the late 1930s, his family of 12 members relocated to Mumbai. Around 1940, Dilip Kumar left home for Pune where he started his career as a canteen owner and a dry fruit supplier. In 1943, actress Devika Rani, and her husband Himanshu Rai who owned Bombay Talkies spotted Dilip Kumar in Aundh military canteens Pune,[12] and cast him with a lead role in their film Jwar Bhata (1944), which marked Dilip Kumar's entry into the Bollywood film industry. Hindi author Bhagwati Charan Varma gave him the screen name Dilip Kumar.[13] It is believed that Dilip Kumar speaks a number of languages, including Pashto, Hindko,[14] Urdu, Hindi and English. He is one of the last surviving actors of Golden era.
Career[edit source | editbeta]
Dilip Kumar's first film Jwar Bhata (1944) went unnoticed, it was Jugnu (1947) in which he starred alongside Noor Jehan that became his first major hit at the box office. His next major hit was the 1948 film Shaheed (1948 film). He got his breakthrough role with Mehboob Khan's Andaz (1949) in which he starred alongside Raj Kapoor and Nargis in a love triangle story. He went on to have success in the 1950s with playing tragic roles in films like Jogan (1950), Deedar (1951), Daag (1952), Devdas (1955), Yahudi (1958) and Madhumati (1958). These films established his screen image as the "Tragedy King". He was the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Daag and went onto win it again for Devdas.[15] He formed popular on-screen pairings with many of the top actresses at the time including Nargis, Kamini Kaushal, Meena Kumari, Madhubala and Vyjanthimala.
In an attempt to shed his "tragedy king" image, Dilip Kumar took up his psychiatrist's suggestion that he take on lighthearted roles such as Aan (1952), his first film in technicolour in which he played a swashbuckling peasant. He has further success with lighter roles in Azaad (1955), Naya Daur (1957) and Kohinoor (1960) which won him the Filmfare Best Actor Award once again.[15] In 1960 he portrayed Prince Salim in K. Asif's big-budget historical film Mughal-e-Azam which as of 2008 was the second highest grossing film in Hindi film history.[16] The film told the story of Prince Salim who revolts against his father Akbar (played by Prithviraj Kapoor) and falls in love with a courtesan (played by Madhubala). The film was mostly shot in black and white with only the latter half of the film in colour. 44 years after its original release, it was fully colourized and re-released in 2004.
In 1961 he produced and starred in Ganga Jamuna in which he and his brother Nasir Khan played the title roles, this was the only film he produced. In 1962 British director David Lean offered him the role of "Sherif Ali" in his film Lawrence of Arabia (1962), but Dilip Kumar declined to perform in the movie.[17] The role eventually went to Omar Sharif, the Egyptian actor. His next film Leader (1964) was a below average grosser at the box office.[18] In 1967 Dilip Kumar played a dual role of twins separated at birth in the hit film Ram Aur Shyam. His career slumped in the 1970s with films like Dastaan (1972) and Bairaag (1976), the latter in which he played triple roles failing at the box office. He starred alongside his real-life wife Saira Banu in Gopi (1970), Bengali film Sagina Mahato (1970) and Bairaag (1976) but all three failed to do well at the box office.[19][20] He took a five-year hiatus from films from 1976 to 1981.[12]
In 1981, he returned to films with the multi-starrer Kranti which was the biggest hit of the year. Appearing alongside an ensemble cast including Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha, he played the title role as a revolutionary fighting for India's independence from British rule.[21] He then formed a successful collaboration with Subhash Ghai starting with Vidhaata (1982) in which he plays an underworld don who tries to hide his lifestyle from his grandson Kunal (Sanjay Dutt). Later that year he played the father of Amitabh Bachchan in Ramesh Sippy's Shakti for which he won yet another Filmfare Award for Best Actor. In 1984 he starred in Yash Chopra's Mashaal and Ramesh Talwar's Duniya.
His second collaboration with Subhash Ghai came with the 1986 action film Karma. In this film, Kumar plays a jailor who hires three men to help him avenge his family's death by escaped terrorist Doctor Dang (played by Anupam Kher).[21] In 1991, he starred alongside veteran actor Raaj Kumar in Saudagar, his third and last film with Subhash Ghai. This was his second film with Raaj Kumar after 1959's Paigham. Saudagar was Kumar's last box office success and also his last film for several years.[22] In 1993 he won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. He was attached to make his directorial debut with a film titled Kalinga but the film was eventually shelved.[23]
In 1998 he made his last film appearance in Qila where he played dual roles as an evil landowner who is murdered and his twin brother who tries to find his killer. In 2001 he was set to appear in a film titled Asar - The Impact alongside Ajay Devgan which was also shelved.[24] His films Mughal-e-Azam and Naya Daur were fully colorized and re-released in 2004 and 2008 respectively.
Kumar was very choosy, and turned down lead roles in many films which eventually were released to great box office success, including Lawrence of Arabia, Pyaasa, The Rains Came and Sangam.[citation needed]
During his career, Kumar was most often voiced by Mohammed Rafi. Others who provided his voice were Talat Mahmood, Mukesh (until 1958) and Kishore Kumar was chosen to playback the song "Saala Main To Saab Bangaya" for the film Sagina (1974).[citation needed]
Public life[edit source | editbeta]
Kumar with Saira Banu in recent years
Dilip Kumar has been active in efforts to bring the people of India and Pakistan closer together. He was nominated a member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament for a term.[12]
He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994. In 1998 he was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award conferred by the government of Pakistan. He is the second Indian to receive the award. At the time of the Kargil War, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray demanded Dilip Kumar return his Nishan-e-Imtiaz, citing "that country's blatant aggression on Indian soil."[25] Dilip Kumar refused, saying:
"This award was given to me for the humane activities to which I have dedicated myself. I have worked for the poor, I have worked for many years to bridge the cultural and communal gaps between India and Pakistan. Politics and religion have created these boundaries. I have striven to bring the two people together in whatever way I could. Tell me, what does any of this have to do with the Kargil conflict?"[26]
Around 10 September 2011 it surfaced that the health of Dilip Kumar is worsening. Some incredible tweets even mistakenly spread news of his death.[27] Later Saira Banu made a public statement that the actor is in good health and in high spirits. Dilip Kumar launched his Twitter account and his first tweet was on his 89th Birthday.[citation needed]
Personal life[edit source | editbeta]
Dilip Kumar was romantically involved with actress Madhubala but they had to part ways as her family was opposed to their marriage.[28][29] He married actress and beauty queen Saira Banu, who was 22 years younger than him, in 1966. He married a second time in 1980 to Asma but the marriage ended soon after.[30]
Awards and popularity[edit source | editbeta]
Dilip Kumar is widely considered to be one of the greatest actor in the history of Hindi cinema.[5][6][7] He holds the Guinness World Record for winning the maximum number of awards by an Indian actor.[8][31] Shahrukh Khan said, "No one can copy him and idiots like me try to copy him."[32] He has received many awards throughout his career, including 8 Filmfare Best Actor awards and 19 Filmfare nominations.[33] He was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.[34]
Dilip Kumar was appointed Sheriff of Mumbai (an honorary position) in 1980,[34] the Government of India honored Kumar with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994.[26][35] The Government of Andhra Pradesh honored Kumar with NTR National Award in 1997. The Government of Pakistan conferred Kumar with Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award in Pakistan, in 1997. The ruling political party of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra had objected on this award and questioned Kumar's patriotism. However, in 1999 in consultation with the then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kumar retained the award.[36] He was honored with CNN-IBN Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.[37]
Filmography[edit source | editbeta]
Year Film Role Awards
1944 Jwar Bhata Jagdish
1945 Pratima
1947 Milan Ramesh
Jugnu Sooraj
1948 Shaheed Ram
Nadiya Ke Paar
Mela Mohan
Ghar Ki Izzat Chanda
Anokha Pyar Ashok
1949 Shabnam Manoj
Andaz Dilip
1950 Jogan Vijay
Babul Ashok
Arzoo Badal
1951 Tarana Motilal
Hulchul Kishore
Deedar Shamu
1952 Sangdil Shankar
Daag Shankar Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Aan Jai Tilak
1953 Shikast Dr. Ram Singh
Footpath Noshu
1954 Amar Amarnath
1955 Udan Khatola
Insaniyat Mangal
Devdas Devdas Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Azaad Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1957 Naya Daur Shankar Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Musafir
1958 Yahudi Prince Marcus
Madhumati Anand/Deven Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1959 Paigham Ratan Lal Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1960 Kohinoor Yuvraj Rana Devendra Bahadur Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Mughal-E-Azam Prince Salim
1961 Gunga Jumna Gunga Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1964 Leader Vijay Khanna Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1966 Dil Diya Dard Liya Shankar/Rajasaheb Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1967 Ram Aur Shyam Ram/Shyam (Dual Role) Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1968 Sunghursh Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Aadmi Rajesh/ Raja Saheb Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1970 Sagina Mahato Sagina
Gopi Gopi Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1972 Dastaan Anil/Sunil (Dual Role)
Anokha Milan
1974 Sagina Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Phir Kab Milogi
1976 Bairaag Kailash/Bholenath/Sanjay (Triple Role) Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1981 Kranti Sanga/Kranti
1982 Vidhaata Shamsher Singh
Shakti Ashvini Kumar Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1983 Mazdoor Dinanath Saxena
1984 Duniya Mohan Kumar
Mashaal Vinod Kumar Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1986 Dharam Adhikari
Karma Vishwanath Pratap Singh, alias Rana
1989 Kanoon Apna Apna Collector Jagat Pratap Singh
1990 Izzatdaar Brahma Dutt
Aag Ka Dariya
1991 Saudagar Thakur Veer Singh Nomination, Filmfare Best Actor Award
1998 Qila Jaganath/Amarnath Singh (Dual Role)
References[edit source | editbeta]
^ Jump up to: a b "Dilip Kumar". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
^ Jump up to: a b Ekbal, Nikhat (2009). Great Muslims of undivided India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 8. ISBN 8-1783-5756-9. Retrieved 2013-07-20. "Dilip Kumar, was born on December 11, 1922 as Muhammad Yusuf Khan, in Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar, Pakistan, in a Pashtun househole of twelve children."
Jump up ^ "Tragedy king Dilip Kumar turns 88". Indian Express. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
Jump up ^ "Unmatched innings". The Hindu. 28 August 28. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b Sharma, Vishwamitra (2007). Famous Indians of the 21st Century. Pustak Mahal. p. 196. ISBN 81-223-0829-5.
^ Jump up to: a b Dawar, Ramesh (2006). Bollywood: yesterday, today, tomorrow. Star Publications. p. 8. ISBN 1-905863-01-2.
^ Jump up to: a b A documentary on the life of Dilip Kumar. Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b The writer has posted comments on this article (11 December 2011). "Dilip Kumar is my idol and inspiration: Amitabh Bachchan - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
Jump up ^ Suresh Kohli (8 January 2004). "Celebrating The Tragedy King". The Hindu (Delhi, India). Retrieved 2012-01-30.
Jump up ^ Coomi Kapoor (8 October 2007). "Personalised fiction, anyone?". The Star (Malaysia) (Malaysia). Retrieved 2012-01-30.
Jump up ^ "Dilip Kumar turns 86". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
^ Jump up to: a b c Meghnad Desai, Baron Desai (2004), Nehru's hero Dilip Kumar in the life of India, Lotus Collection, Roli Books, ISBN 978-81-7436-311-4.
Jump up ^ Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. India: Popular Prakashan Pvt ltd. pp. 470–473. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
Jump up ^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C12%5C11%5Cstory_11-12-2012_pg3_2
^ Jump up to: a b "rediff.com, Movies: Tragedy King Dilip Kumar". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
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^ Jump up to: a b Top Earners 1980-1989 (Figures in Ind Rs). Box Office India. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
Jump up ^ Top Lifetime Grossers 1990-1994 (Figures in Ind Rs). Box Office India. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
Jump up ^ Asif Noorani (11 December 2012). "Dilip Kumar: 90 fruitful years | Entertainment". Dawn.Com. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
Jump up ^ http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2001/aug/14759.htm
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^ Jump up to: a b ANALYSIS: Dilip Kumar turns 88. Daily Times. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
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Jump up ^ "'She loved Dilipsaab till the day she died'". Rediff.com. March 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
Jump up ^ Kumar, Anuj (6 January 2010). "Capturing Madhubala’s pain". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
Jump up ^ Bhatia, Ritu (2 September 2012). "Don't mind the (age) gap". India Today. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
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Jump up ^ "You can't copy Dilip Kumar: Shah Rukh Khan". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
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^ Jump up to: a b "Lifetime Achievement (Popular)". Filmfare Awards. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
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