Dilip Kumar

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He was born at Peshawar, British India (modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). His father Lala Ghulam Sarwar Ali Khan named him Mohammad Yusuf Khan (later he was rechristened as Dilip Kumar by Bombay Talkies Film Company).  After partition, the family shifted to Nashik. Here his father owned orchards in Deolali and did fruit business. Young Yusuf Khan did schooling at Barnes School in Deolali, Nashik.

Later, the family shifted to Mumbai and Yusuf Khan did further studies from Anjuman-I-Islam located in Mumbai CST. After studies, Yusuf helped his father in fruit business but once he had a difference with his father and left home. He went to Pune and successfully started a canteen at the army club. But when the contract was over he moved to Mumbai. Here he met Dr. Masani, who was impressed by his charming personality and introduced him to popular film actress Devika Rani, owner of Bombay Talkies Film Compnay. She offered him a lucrative job of an actor for a handsome Rs. 1250 per month thus started Yusuf Khan's journey in Bollywood with a new name Dilip Kumar!!!  

Dilip Kumar has had a colorful life. Many women fell in his love!!

Dilip Kumar has had a colorful life. Many women have fallen in his love but Dilip Kumar has remained loyal to his wife Saira Banu. Here is a shortlist of the actress in Dilip Kumar 's life. The first actress who came in his life was Kamini Kaushal his co-star in the film Shaheed. The duo did many films and fell in love. They even decided to marry but Kamini's brother, who was in the Indian army, was against this relationship. Hence the relation ended.

Later the bewitching actress Madhubala came in the life of Dilip Kumar. Love blossomed during the making of the film Mugul-E-Azam. However, Madhubala's father created obstacles and even dragged Dilip Kumar into court to tarnish his image. Shattered Dilip Kumar cut off relations with Madhubala.

Later, during the making of Ganga Jumna, Dilip Kumar came close to Vyjayanthimala. The Jodi became a hit and they did many films together but Raj Kapoor played the spoilsport after signing Vyjayanthimala in his film Sangam and getting closer to her. This angered Dilip Kumar and he moved out form the relationship with Vyjayanthimala.

After repeated failures in love, Dilip Kumar had decided to never marry but then came in his life Saira Banu, a 22-year lady who had adored Dilip Kumar since the age of 12 years! Dilip Kumar was 44 year and Saira was just 22 years but Saira's passion and affection for Dilip Kumar won his heart and the duo tied the nuptial knot on 11 October 1966. In 2016, the duo celebrated 50 years of their happy married life. Their love has become exemplified and admired by the society.

Though Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar had a smooth relationship but when the duo could have a child, Dilip Kumar was enticed by a Hyderabadi pretty lady Asma. But soon Dilip realized she was a cheat. Realizing his folly Dilip Kumar came back to Saira Banu. Even today, Dilip Kumar regrets his short affair with Asma.

1940

 Dilip Kumar became India's First Star with the success of Andaaz

Dilip Kumar made his debut with Jwar Bhata (1944) though the film was a failure and like Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar gave a series of flops and eventually after 2 years in 1947 his fortune shined when his film Jugnu (1947) opposite 40's top female star Noor Jehan became a huge hit.

Soon, Dilip Kumar gave 2 consecutive hit films Shaheed and Mela in 1948! He was noticed by Movie Monarch Mehboob Khan and he signed him in his film Andaz (1949), India's First Multi Star Film! The film had top stars Raj Kapoor, Nargis, and Dilip Kumar. The film was a huge hit. After the success of Andaz, Mehboob Khan made another magnum opus Aan (1952), India's First Technicolor Film! The film broke all box-office records and made Dilip Kumar India's First Star! 

1950

 Dilip Kumar became the First recipient of Filmfare Best Actor Award

In the '50s Dilip Kumar got established as a ‘Tragedy King' due to his commanding performance as a tragedian. His towering performance as a depressed lover in romantic films like Jogan (1950), Babul (1950), Deedar (1951) won him huge applause. In the film, Daag (1952) Dilip Kumar played zealous alcoholic with such perfection that he went on to receive the First Filmfare Best Actor Award instituted by The Times Of India Group of Newspaper.

Dilip Kumar creates history –Wins a Hat-trick of Filmfare Best Actor Award

In the '50s Dilip Kumar was at his peak of career and doing quality cinema with renowned filmmakers. This was the year he gave several hit films like Amar (1954), Uran Khatola (1955), Insaniyat (1955), Devdas (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Yahudi (1958), Madhumati (1958) and Paigham (1959). Interestingly in the mid-'50s Dilip Kumar hit a hat-trick and won 3 Filmfare Award Best Actors in a row for Azaad (1956), Devdas (1957) and Naya Daur (1958)!

1960

Dilip Kumar Ruled the 60's as Super Star

Dilip Kumar rose to the dizzy height of stardom in the '60s. With K.Asif's big-budget epic historical film Mughal-e-Azam, Dilip Kumar rose from Star to Super Star! The film till date is regarded as India's First Highest-grossing Indian film of all time! Dilip Kumar repeated success with Ganga Jamuna (1962), Ram Aur Shyam (1968). In the '60s Dilip Kumarwon 3 more Filmfare Award - Best Actor for his marvelous performances in films like Best Actor for Kohinoor (1960), Leader (1964) and Ram Aur Shyam (1967).

1970

Dilip Kumar 's charisma declined

With the Rajesh Khanna phenomena at its peak, the charisma of Dilip Kumar lost sheen in the '70s. He gave a series of flops like Dastaan (1972), Gopi (1970),  Sagina (1974) and his career's most ambitious film Bairaag (1976) in which he played the triple role for the first time on screen! He had high hope from the film but it was a huge disaster at the box-office!

Shattered by failures, Dilip Kumar took self-imposed exile from Bollywood.

1980

Dilip Kumar returned with a bang

After a 5 year retirement, Dilip Kumar returned to Bollywood with a bang playing Lead Character Roles. His comeback film Kranti (1981) was the biggest hit of the year. Further with Ramesh Sippy's blockbuster Shakti in which Dilip Kumar was paired opposite Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar won his 7TH Filmfare Award for Best Actor thus proving his mettle as an actor par excellence.

Dilip Kumar gave the Greatest Emotional Scenes ever Filmed On Indian Screen!

Later, in 1984, Dilip Kumar clashed with upcoming star Anil Kapoor in Yash Chopra's Mashaal. The tragic scene from the film - Ae bhai koi hai…Zara Gadi Roko Bhai… where a broken Dilip Kumar appeals for help for his dying wife on the deserted streets of Mumbai shall always remain immortal in the annals of Indian cinema!  In fact, renowned filmmaker Yash Chopra, who directed the film, believes that it is one of the Greatest Emotional Scenes ever Filmed On Indian Screen!

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai tapped the genius of Dilip Kumar 

Film director Subhash Ghai tapped the hidden talent of Dilip Kumar in the '80s. For the first time, Subhash Ghai broke the ‘Tragedy Image’ of Dilip Kumar and gave him a new image of the Angry Old Man typical to Amitabh Bachchan’s Angry Young Man. Subhash Ghai gave Dilip Kumar sophisticated urbane characters like  the role of an underworld don in his film Vidhaata (1982). To make the movie impressive Ghai clashed Dilip Kumar with Indian cinema's great actor Sanjeev Kumar.

Ghai repeated the idea of giving tailor-made role to Dilip Kumar in Karma (1986) and clashed Dilip Kumar against another brilliant actor Naseeruddin Shah and in his next film Saudagar (1991), Ghai created history by casting Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar after a gap of 30 years!

1990

Dilip Kumar proved his versatility

Dilip Kumar has been a versatile actor and kept doing a verity of roles in the late ‘90s. In his last film Qila (1998) he played dual roles of an evil landlord and an honest lawyer. He played a typical Brahmin speaking chaste Hind in the film Dharm Adhikari (1986).  Besides, in the '50s after being stereotyped in tragedy roles Dilip Kumar experiment different roles and did fantastic comedy in films like Azaad (1955), and as a royal prince in the romantic musical Kohinoor (1960) and the twin brothers in Ram Aur Shyam (1969).