Dilip Kumar, India's enduring film legend through the decades, died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday after prolonged illness, his family and doctors treating him said. He was 98. He is survived by his wife Saira Banu.
Just two days ago, Saira had tweeted about his improving medical condition, since her husband had been keeping unwell recently.
But that was a short-lived glimmer of hope and he passed away around dawn, plunging Bollywood, his billions of fans, followers and admirers around the world into gloom.
As the Mumbai police was deployed outside the actor’s residence with celebs paying a visit, an elderly woman arrived wearing all-black, sobbing her way through the entrance.
The woman claiming to be Kumar’s relative was stopped by the police personnel after family members denied knowing her.
Watch the video below.
Dilip Kumar’s last rites will be held at 5 pm at the Juhu Qabrastan at Santacruz Mumbai, a post from his Twitter handle said.
Kumar, who embodied the best of India through his work and seven decades in public life, had been admitted to the Hinduja Hospital, a non-COVID-19 facility in Khar, since last Tuesday.
"He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am," Dr Jalil Parkar, who had been treating Kumar, told PTI.
"With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return," family friend Faisal Farooqui posted from the actor's Twitter handle at 8.01 am.
Around 9.30 a.m., an ambulance carrying Dilip Kumar's body left for his home in Bandra west, with his wife of 55-years Saira Banu Khan accompanying along with some family members.
The actor was known to generations of film-goers as 'tragedy king' for his portrayal of the brooding, intense romantic in classics such as "Mughal-e-Azam" and "Devdas" to name a few.