Top 10 Interesting facts about Dilip Kumar (Muhammad Yusuf Khan)
Legendary Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar is celebrating his 98th birthday today. The actor has been an example of excellence and determination all through his LIFE . He essayed various iconic characters in his film career in films like Ganga Jamuna, Devdas, Mughal-e-azam, Mashaal, Shakti, Daag and many others. His name has been synonymous to graces and brilliance on the big screen. Popularly called the ‘Tragedy King of Bollywood,’
On his 98th birthday, his well-wishers, fans and Bollywood celebrities like Ajay Devgn, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar and others took to social media to share heartfelt birthday greetings.
Ali Fazal wished Dilip Kumar on his 98th birthday in a tribute video in which he was delivering his dialogue mimicking his voice. He wrote, “Happy Birthday Yusuf saab aka Dilip Kumar.. From my favourite film. Aaj dialogue yaad aa gaye aapke. . Gustaakhi Maaf..”
Wishing good health and long life for Dilip Kumar on his 98th birthday, actress Madhuri Dixit wrote, “Happy birthday @TheDilipKumar saab.. I wish you good health and a long life ahead. I feel fortunate remembering the times we spent together while shooting for #Izzatdar & #KanoonApnaApna. Sending you my best wishes. Take care.”
Kamal Haasan tweeted, “To my dearest Yusuf Khan Saheb / Shri. DIlip Kumar Ji @TheDilipKumar My salute to one of the greatest living Indian artistes in Cinema. Happy birthday sir and I place my gratitude for setting a benchmark half a century ago, for today’s artistes to follow.”
11:51 AM(IST)Posted by Parina Taneja
Dharmendra shares golden picture with Dilip Kumar
Veteran actor Dharmendra shared a throwback photo with Dilip Kumar on his birthday. The picture depicts him feeding the legendary actor with his own hands. He wrote, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dalip sahab . Love you my darling brother.”
Dilip Kumar wasn’t feeling well and his health had worried his fans. However, wife Saira Banu revealed that he is doing fine and recovering. She said, “Dilip sahab is fine. He has some health problems, which is often the case with the elderly. We are trying to cope the best we can.” She also said, “Dilip sahab is a sports fan and watches sports on TV. He also loves classical music. So, it’s time well-spent at home.”
Dilip Kumar was born in Peshawar and his father was a landlord
Dilip Kumar’s real name is Muhammad Yusuf Khan. This actor was born on 11th December 1922 in the Qissa Khawani Bazaar area of Peshawar which is in present Pakistan. His father Lala Ghulam Sarwar Ali Khan was a landlord and a fruit merchant who owned orchards in Peshawar and Deolali. His mother Ayesha Begum was a home-maker.
Dilip Kumar grew up with Raj Kapoor in Nashik
Dilip Kumar did his schooling from Barnes School in Deolali, Nashik. Raj Kapoor was his childhood friend and both grew up together in the same religiously mixed neighbourhood.
Dilip Kumar ran away from home when he was in his teens
Dilip Kumar left his home in the year 1940, after an argument with his father and ran away to Pune. At that time, he was still a teenager
Dilip Kumar went to Pune and set up a sandwich stall
After Yusuf Saheb reached Pune, he met a canteen contractor with the help of a Parsi café owner and an elderly Anglo-Indian couple. There, he got a job only on the basis of his merit of his knowledge of the English language, both written and spoken, as he did not reveal his family antecedents.
Dilip Kumar set up a sandwich stall at the canteen till the duration of the contract and ended up saving a whopping Rs 5,000, a huge sum back then, post which he went back home.
Dilip Kumar’s first step in film industry was in 1942
In the year 1942, he met Dr. Masani as he wanted to assist his father in the family finances. Dr. Masani took him to Bombay Talkies in Malad and in turn led him to meet actress Devika Rani who was also the owner of Bombay Talkies.
In 1942 Dilip Kumar joined Bombay Talkies as a script-writer for Rs 1,250 per month
He joined Bombay Talkies for a salary of 1,250 per month in their scripting and story-writing department due to his proficiency in Urdu.
Devika Rani asked him to change his name to Dilip Kumar
After 2 years, Devika Rani requested him to change his name to Dilip Kumar and cast him in the lead role in the movie Jwar Bhata in 1944
He gave his first hit three years after debut
While his debut movie in 1944 Jwar Bhata was not a success, he saw success with the film Jugnu in 1947 in which he starred opposite Noor Jehan. This was followed by more successful movies like Mela and Shaheed in the year 1948.
The 1950s was the decade of Dilip Kumar
The biggest breakthrough of his career came with the movie Andaz in 1949 in which he starred along with Raj Kapoor and Nargis. He saw more success in the 1950s with movies like Jogan, Hulchul, Babul, Deedar, Naya Daur, Devdas, Daag and Madhumati.
Mughal-E-Azam is Dilip Kumar’s highest-grossing film till date
In the 1960s, he starred in the movie Mughal-E-Azam, which became the highest-grosser in the Indian Film history and stayed on till 11 years. The success streak continued with the movies Ganga Jamuna, Leader, Dil Diya Dard Liya, Ram aur Shyam and Aadmi.
Dilip Kumar suffered from depression due to the roles he did in movies in 1950s
However, the intense roles he portrayed in these movies during the 1950s labelled him as the ‘Tragedy King’ and he briefly suffered from depression.he took up lighter roles in movies like Aan, Azaad and Kohinoor.
Dilip Kumar did not take a major role in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’
Dilip Kumar was approached by British director David Lean for the role of Sherif Ali in his movie ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ in the year 1962, which was declined by Kumar. The role then went to Egyptian acting great Omar Sharif.
Dilip Kumar was also considered to star opposite Elizabeth Taylor in another of Lean’s movie called Taj Mahal, however, the project got cancelled.
Dilip Kumar was the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1956
Dilip Kumar won the honour for ‘Daag’. he won for 7 more times (o which four were consecutively) and was the actor with the highest number of Filmfare Awards till Shah Rukh Khan equalled him in 2011.
Dilip Kumar was the first actor to charge Rs 1 Lakh per movie during the 1950s
He has been described as the ‘ultimate method actor’ by Satyajit Ray
Dilip Kumar acting style was influenced by actor Ashok Kumar
When they first met in 1942, Ashok Kumar was already a star. He told Dilip Kumar to act ‘natural’.
Dilip Kumar produced one film in his life
The film was ‘Ganga Jamuna’ and it released in the year 1961. It also starred his brother Nasir Khan.
Dilip Kumar films started flopping at the Box Office in 1970s
In the 1970s his career graph saw a gradual dip with movies like Dastaan, Gopi, Sagina and Bairag failing to make a mark at the box office. Post that, he took a five year sabbatical from movies from the year 1976 to 1981
Dilip Kumar returned to movies after a 5-year break in 1981
Dilip Kumar returned to the Indian Film Industry in 1981 playing character actor in ensemble movies such as Kranti, Vidhaata, Shakti, Mahsaal, Dharam Adhikari. Dilip Kumar continued to play the similar roles further in movies Kanoon Apna Apna, Saudagar and Qila in the 1990s
Dilip Kumar’s first love was Madhubala
Dilip Kumar and Madhubala fell in love during the making of Tarana and were together for seven years. Their relationship fell apart due to their differences in a court case regarding the movie Naya Daur.
Dilip Kumar married Saira Banu, 22 years his junior, in 1966
Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar tied the knot 1966, the former being 22 years younger to the latter. Dilip Kumar is currently living with his wife Saira Banu in Bandra, Mumbai and they have no children.
Dilip Kumar married a second time in 1981
Dilip Kumar remarried Hyderabad socialite Asma Sahiba in the year 1981, however, this marriage lasted for only two years.
Dilip Kumar holds Guinness World Record for maximum number of awards by an Indian actor.
These awards include 10 Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, A Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, Filmfare Special Recognition Award and 19 nominations for Filmfare Best Actor Award, Padma Bhushan in 1991, Dadasaheb Phalke Award 1994, Padma Vibhushan in 2015 and NTR National Award by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1997
Dilip Kumar was also conferred Nishan-e-Imitiaz, which is the highest civilian award in Pakistan, by the Government of Pakistan in 1998.
. He was the Sheriff of Bombay for 3 years
Dilip Kumar was also appointed as the Sheriff of Bombay by the Governor of Maharashtra during the period from 1979 till 1982.For the uninitiated, Dilip Kumar has also been nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha by the Indian National Congress during the period 2000-2006.
Dilip Kumar posted his first tweet on his 89th birthday
With everyone making their presence felt on the social media, Dilip Kumar too joined the bandwagon with his first tweet made on Twitter on his 89th birthday in 2011.
Dilip kumar passed away on 7th July 2021.