Born as Mohammed Yusuf Khan and popularly known as Dilip Kumar, this legendary icon of the Hindi Film Industry passed away today, on July 7.
Often referred to as the “Tragedy King” and the “The first Khan” of the Bollywood industry, Kumar starred in films such as Devdas and Madhumati. Moreover, he was often cited by colleagues such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan as the actor they most admire. He is survived by Saira Banu, his wife of over 50 years.
Dilip Kumar was born to a Hindko-speaking Awan family in Peshawar, the young Kumar went to school in Deolali, Maharashtra, where his fruit merchant father owned orchards.
Meanwhile, the legendary performer made his Hindi film debut in 1943 with the encouragement of Devikarani, the wife of Himanshu Rai who was the founder of Bombay Talkies. According to reports, Hindi writer Bhagwati Charan Verma named Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar.
Dilip Saheb started his film career with the movie Jwara Bhata whereas Jugnu was his first hit movie. Sources state that he was paid INR 1,250 for the movie Jwar Bhata which kickstarted his career in films. He was only 19 at the time.
The actor, after suffering from prostate cancer for the longest time, succumbed to the illness at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital on July 7. Furthermore, the government of Maharashtra has reportedly approved his burial with state honours at Juhu Qabrastan.
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