Amitabh Bachchan paid his respect to Dilip Kumar at the state funeral. (Photos: Varinder Chawla)Thespian Dilip Kumar’s death on Wednesday has left the entire Indian film fraternity shocked and in mourning. The legendary actor who passed away at the age of 98 has left a void in cinema and a huge body of work behind, for future filmmakers and actors to learn from. The actor was laid to rest at Juhu Qabarastan in Mumbai with full state honours on Wednesday evening.
Popularly known as the ‘Tragedy King’ of Bollywood, Kumar was known as a method actor who was never limited to genres. In a career spanning more than five decades, the prolific legend was part of comedies, dramas, romance, and so on.
Some of his best known films include Aan, Daag, Devdas, Madhumati, Azaad, Mughal-e-Azam, Gunga Jamuna, Kranti, Karma, Ram Aur Shyam, among others.
Dilip Kumar also possessed the distinction of being the only Indian recipient of Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
For his contribution to cinema, Dilip Kumar was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in the artform. He also received the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of the country.
Along with Shah Rukh Khan, he held the record for winning the most Filmfare Awards in the Best Actor category: 8. He also won the inaugural trophy in the same category in 1954.
Personalities from cinema, politics and sports paid tributes to Dilip Kumar. Here are all the wishes and obituaries pouring in for the icon.
Residents of Peshawar, Pakistan remember Dilip Kumar.
Sayyeshaa shared a note on Twitter that read, "I’m blessed to have spent so much of my childhood with the legend who the world knows as #DilipKumar For me he will always remain my warm hearted Phuponana, with whom I sang and danced, learnt so much from and loved to bits! It’s an end of an era! RIP."
Abhishek Bachchan shared a note remembering Dilip Kumar.
Devika Rani told Dilip Kumar that she foresaw a long and successful career for him in films and it made good sense to have a screen identity that would “stand up by itself and have a secular appeal”. READ MORE
Acting was never the first choice for Dilip Kumar, he turned down Pyaasa and Lawrence of Arabia: Here are 15 surprising facts about the man who shaped Indian cinema. READ HERE
"When I came to the industry, there were three major stars — Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar. While both Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand also directed and produced films, Yusuf sahab did neither. He was a very committed actor. Everyone in the industry spoke about how seriously he took his work – from the script to the delineation of his character. According to Satyajit Ray, Dilip Kumar was the ultimate method actor. His performances are still very relevant. They haven’t aged at all with time," writes Sharmila Tagore as she remembers Dilip Kumar. READ MORE
Who was the inspiration of the one who inspired generations of actors to take the profession? It was none other than Ashok Kumar. Dilip Kumar credits Ashok Kumar for giving him the advice which went on to become a guideline for the rest of his career -- "Acting is all about not acting.”
Did you know that Dilip Kumar was offered the role of Sherif Ali in the acclaimed movie? However, Kumar turned down the role, and it went to Omar Sharif. In his autobiography, the screen legend stated that Sharif did a much better job than he ever could have.
The gifted superstar could speak Hindi, Pashto, Urdu, Punjabi, Marathi, English, Bengali, Gujarati and Persian, and was also fluent in Bhojpuri and Awadhi. In fact, his Bhojpuri was so fluent in Ganga Jamuna that he had Amitabh Bachchan amazed at his skill, wondering how someone originally not from either UP or Bihar could speak the language with such proficiency. Read more here.
Former India defender Subrata Bhattacharya, who was also a part of the Indian side that played in the 1984 AFC Asian Cup, recalled his meeting with Dilip Kumar. “Dilip Kumar was extremely passionate about football. On the field, when he’d come to a game as a chief guest, you don’t get to talk much. But I had met him a few times off the field as well, and he used to love to discuss the game with us,” stated Bhattacharya. Read more here.
"Farewell Dilip Kumar Saab. Just a few weeks ago my father and I spoke about you. You are someone he loves immensely. Both as an actor and as a person. He said there isn’t a more charming actor or a sweeter man than Dilip Saab. And that when you spoke your words flowed like honey. He could listen and watch you speak endlessly. In fact if you ever spotted him, whether at an event or even abroad shopping, you would always make it a point to send for him. And then you would enquire about him and give him your love and your time. You are his absolute favourite. I love you for how much my father loves you. You were his own. I struggled through this entire note to avoid writing in past tense. Farewell Dilip Saab," read the Malayalam star's full note.
He was born Mohammed Yusuf Khan but Devika Rani, who was head of the Bombay Talkies where he joined as an actor, wasn’t too happy with the name. Dilip Kumar, she thought, would be in tune with his “romantic image” which he was bound to acquire and would also have a “secular appeal”. And so Dilip Kumar it was. Read more here
"No words can describe anything about him … Thank you and blessed we are to have lived at the same time as him .. At peace may he be… #DilipKumarSaab icon and legend are not enough in terms of adjectives to describe him .. don’t even know how to type," wrote Sikander Kher as he paid tribute to the legend on his social media.
Here's a video of the Bachchans at Dilip Kumar's state funeral. (Video: Varinder Chawla)
Abhishek Bachchan was also seen along with his father Amitabh Bachchan at Dilip Kumar's funeral. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Amitabh Bachchan arrives to pay his respects at Dilip Kumar's funeral. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Sharing a lengthy post about how both his grandmother and father were big fans of Dilip Kumar, Ayushmann paid homage to the screen legend and stated, "Be it comedy, tragedy or romance, he mastered every emotion and being a linguist he presented a perfect prototype of a superstar. Thank you for everything Yusuf Saab."
Final prayers (Namaz-e-Janaza) for the late actor are being held (parallel to final rites in India) near his ancestral Haveli in Peshawar of Pakistan, one of the organizers told The Indian Express.
The actor's last rites took place at Qabaristan in Mumbai's Santazruz. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)