Dilip Kumar (born Muhammad Yusuf Khan; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021) was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is often referred to as the "Tragedian of Hindi cinema" for his portrayal of intense, emotionally restrained characters. His career spanned more than five decades, during which he appeared in around 65 films.
Key facts
| Birth name | Muhammad Yusuf Khan |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1922, Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) |
| Died | 7 July 2021, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1944–1998 |
| Spouse | Saira Banu (m. 1966) |
| Notable awards | Padma Bhushan (1991), Padma Vibhushan (2015), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1994), Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1998) |
| Filmfare Awards | Eight Best Actor awards; Lifetime Achievement Award (1993) |
| Rajya Sabha | Nominated member, 2000–2006 |
Background
Yusuf Khan was born into a Hindko-speaking Awan family in the Qissa Khwani Bazaar area of Peshawar. His father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar Ali Khan, was a fruit merchant who owned orchards in Peshawar and Deolali in Maharashtra. The family migrated to Bombay (now Mumbai) in the 1930s. Khan studied at Barnes School in Deolali and later at Khalsa College in Bombay. He was one of twelve children; among his brothers were actors Nasir Khan and Ehsan Khan.
In the early 1940s, after a falling-out with his father, he moved to Pune, where he set up a sandwich stall at the British Army club. He later returned to Bombay, where he was introduced to Devika Rani, the head of Bombay Talkies, who offered him an acting contract and suggested the screen name "Dilip Kumar".
Career
Early career (1944–1949)
Dilip Kumar made his debut in Jwar Bhata (1944), produced by Bombay Talkies. His early films attracted limited attention, but his role in Jugnu (1947), opposite Noor Jehan, was his first major commercial success. Films such as Shaheed (1948) and Mela (1948) consolidated his standing, while Andaz (1949), directed by Mehboob Khan and co-starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis, established him as a leading actor.
Tragic-hero phase (1950s)
The 1950s are considered the peak of Dilip Kumar's career. He delivered a series of memorable performances in films such as Jogan (1950), Babul (1950), Deedar (1951), Daag (1952), Devdas (1955) directed by Bimal Roy, Naya Daur (1957) directed by B. R. Chopra, Madhumati (1958), and Yahudi (1958). His association with tragic roles became so strong that he was reportedly advised by a psychiatrist to take on lighter roles to avoid the emotional toll, leading to comedies such as Azaad (1955) and Kohinoor (1960).
Mughal-e-Azam and the 1960s
K. Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (1960), in which he played Prince Salim opposite Madhubala's Anarkali, became one of the most celebrated films in Indian cinema and was, for many years, the highest-grossing Hindi film. He followed it with Gunga Jumna (1961), which he produced under his own banner Citizen Films and in which his brother Nasir Khan also starred. The film was noted for its rural setting and dialect-heavy dialogue. Other films of this period include Leader (1964), Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), and Ram Aur Shyam (1967), in which he played a double role.
Later career (1970s–1990s)
After a brief hiatus, Dilip Kumar returned in character roles with Kranti (1981), directed by Manoj Kumar. He went on to appear in Shakti (1982), opposite Amitabh Bachchan and directed by Ramesh Sippy, Vidhaata (1982), Mashaal (1984), Karma (1986), Saudagar (1991), directed by Subhash Ghai and co-starring Raaj Kumar, and finally Qila (1998), his last screen appearance.
Personal life
Dilip Kumar married actress Saira Banu on 11 October 1966; she was 22 years younger than him. The couple had no children. In 1981, he briefly married Asma Rehman, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1983.
He was a close friend of several political leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and later figures across party lines. He served as the Sheriff of Bombay in 1980 and was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006.
Awards and honours
- Filmfare Best Actor Award: Won eight times, for Daag (1954, the inaugural year), Azaad (1958), Devdas (1957), Naya Daur (1958), Kohinoor (1961), Leader (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1968), and Shakti (1983). He held the record for most wins in this category for several decades.
- Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1993)
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1994), India's highest honour in cinema
- Padma Bhushan (1991)
- Padma Vibhushan (2015)
- Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1998), Pakistan's highest civilian honour, the conferment of which became politically controversial in India
- NTR National Award (1997)
Significance
Dilip Kumar is regarded as a foundational figure in Indian screen acting. Along with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, he formed the leading trio of Hindi cinema of the late 1940s and 1950s. He is credited with bringing a naturalistic, internalised style of performance to Hindi films, departing from the theatrical conventions of the time. Actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, and Naseeruddin Shah have publicly cited him as an influence. Satyajit Ray once described him as "the ultimate method actor."
His autobiography, Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow, co-written with Udayatara Nayar, was published in 2014.
Death
Dilip Kumar died on 7 July 2021 at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, aged 98, after a prolonged illness. He was buried with state honours at the Juhu Muslim cemetery.