Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar dies aged 98
Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar passed away in hospital after battling a prolonged illness, his doctor confirmed earlier today.
One of India’s most iconic actors with a career spanning over 50 years and starring in nearly 60 films – nicknamed the tragedy king because he would often take on films with a tragic storyline – Kumar has been one of the three big names to dominate the golden age of Indian cinema.
Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on December 11th 1922 in Peshawar, he was one of 12 children his father took to the entertainment capital of India in 1930’s.
Kumar was first casted and given a screen name by Devika Rani in 1944 for his first film Jwar Bhatta (Sea Tide), which was not a success and gave him extremely poor reviews. However, Kumar shot to fame with his next film in 1946, Milan.
Amongst his most remembered roles are Mughal-e-Azam, based on a historical romance of the Mughal emperors. This particular movie was eight years in the making and became one of Bollywood’s largest grossing films of all time.
He played a variety of characters – a romantic hero in Andaz (Gesture) a swashbuckler in Aan (Pride), a dramatic drunkard in Devdas, a comic role in Azaad (Free) and a robber in the social movie Ganga Jamuna.
Dilip Kumar has left a legacy behind of great films and roles that have been honoured by millions around the world on social media today including Indian actors.
Amitabh Bachan, his co actor in the film Shakti, tweeted: ‘An institution has gone, whenever the history of Indian cinema will be written it shall always be before Dilip Kumar…after Dilip Kumar. My prayers for his soul and strength to his family to bear his loss.’