dilip kumar biography in urdu

Dilip Kumar Age, Death, Wife, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Dilip Kumar

Dilip Kumar smoking

Dilip Kumar’s childhood photo

• His father was a landlord and fruit merchant and also owned orchards in Deolali (in Maharashtra, India) and Peshawar (in Pakistan). In the late 1930s, his family moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) from Peshawar, Pakistan. In Bombay, Dilip Kumar was the neighbour of the legendary Indian actor Raj Kapoor . In an interview, he was asked how much did he miss Peshawar? He replied,

I remember a lot. With age, this trend has increased even more. I miss my grandmother. Reminds me of childhood. I miss playing my football.”

• In 1940, when Dilip Kumar was a teenager, he left his home and moved to Pune, Maharashtra, after an altercation with his father. There, he started a dry fruit shop and a sandwich stall at an army club in Pune, Maharashtra.
• After almost three years, the legendary Indian actress Devika Rani and her husband Himanshu Rai spotted Dilip Kumar in a military canteen. They liked him and offered him the lead role in the Hindi film ‘Jwar Bhata’ (1944). In an interview, he shared how he developed an interest in acting. He said,

Yes, I used to watch movies, but they used to be English films. When I got a chance to work in Hindi films, I had seen only a few Hindi films. In those days I was crazy about English films. He used to watch these films hiding from his family members. Later he came to know about this. He was also worried about my passion for films. When I decided to become an actor in Hindi films, I was worried how to do something I don’t know. But then Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies told me that just as you are learning to sell fruits, you will also learn acting.” Dilip Kumar and Devika Rani

• Before making his debut in the Hindi films, at the suggestion of Devika, he changed his name from Mohammed Yusuf Khan to Dilip Kumar. During an interview, Dilip Kumar shared why he had changed his name. He said,

Haqeeqat bataun? Pitayi ke darr se maine yeh naam rakha (Should I tell you honestly? It was because I was scared of beatings that I used this name).”

Dilip Kumar in Jugnu

Raj Kapoor, Nargis, and Dilip Kumar on the sets of Andaz

• In the 1950s, he appeared in many super-hit Hindi films like ‘Jogan’ (1950), ‘Babul’ (1950), ‘Hulchul’ (1951), ‘Shikast’ (1953), and ‘Uran Khatola’ (1955).

Dilip Kumar with Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

Dilip Kumar in Devdas

I had been playing characters who were ill-fated and a morbid outlook had seized me as a result of my extreme involvement and my living the character beyond the working hour.”

• His first technicolour film was ‘Aan’ (1952) which was released worldwide and premiered in London.

Dilip Kumar with his Filmfare Award

• In 1951, while shooting for the Hindi film ‘Tarana’ Dilip Kumar fell in love with his co-star Madhubala . After a courtship of almost seven years followed by an engagement, troubles started arising in their relationship due to the court case of the Hindi film ‘Naya Daur’ in 1957. Their last film together was the epic Hindi film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960). In an interview, while talking about Madhubala, he said,

I must admit that I was attracted to her (Madhubala) both as a fine co-star and as a person who had some of the attributes I hoped to find in a woman at that age and time…She, as I said earlier, was very sprightly and vivacious and, as such, she could draw me out of my shyness and reticence effortlessly.”

Dilip Kumar in Amar (1954)

• Kumar portrayed the role of Prince Salim in K. Asif’s epic historical film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960). The film remained the 2nd highest-grossing film till 2008 in the history of Hindi films. The film was shot in black & white, and some scenes of the film were shot in colour. In 2004, after almost 44 years of its original release, the film was fully colourised and was re-released in theatres.

• In the Hindi film ‘Gunga Jamuna’ (1961), the role of his younger brother was played by his real brother Nasir Khan. The duo appeared together in another Hindi film ‘Bairaag’ (1976).
• In 1962, he was offered a role in the British film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ by the British director David Lean, which he declined.
• He got married to the Indian actress Saira Banu in 1966 who was almost half of his age. While he was married to Saira, he fell in love with a girl from Pakistan Asma and secretly got married to her in 1980. His marriage with Asma did not last long, and he returned to his first wife, Saira. During an interview, he talked about his marriage to Saira. He said,

When I married Saira she was young, even younger than my sisters. I wondered how she would cope with establishing the right vibes with my brothers and sisters, especially since she belonged to a small family. We siblings were a dozen. But she not only respected and loved them as a devoted sister-in-law, but also keeps me close to all of them.” A collage of Dilip Kumar’s wedding photographs

Gopi (1970)

Dilip Kumar in Karma

Dilip Kumar With Ashok Kumar

• In 1993, during the riots in Maharashtra (caused by the demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya), he made his home as a command centre for the relief work. He was involved in various social activities, and he was one of the members who conceptualised Jogger’s Park in Bandra, Mumbai.

Dilip Kumar campaigning for the Congress party

Dilip Kumar filing his nomination papers

Dilip Kumar (left), Raj Kapoor (centre), and Dev Anand (right)

• Dilip Kumar loved cooking, and the best dish he used to make was chicken soup. In an interview, the Indian politician Priya Dutt said,

Dad had a very special relationship with Dilip Uncle. Dilip uncle was always an elder brother and advisor to dad. Whenever father had problems in his life and was going through any kind of an upheaval, he would directly walk all the way up to Dilip uncle’s house. He would go up to him and say that I want to eat with you. Dilipsaab himself used to cook a dish then – Chicken Soup. They used to sit over dinner and discuss. They were very important moments to my father. Dad was always giving advice to others as an elder, but he never had someone older than him to handhold him when he needed.”

• Kumar was the idol of the veteran Indian actor Dharmendra . While talking about Dilip in an interview, Dharmendra said,

I used to go and meet him and at times I would want to leave early because I wanted to have my regular (alcohol). Dilipsaab would understand and would ask for alcohol to be served too. But I loved his Chicken soup and what Narmada (his cook) cooked and he would give me advice on my career as well.”

He further added,

Imagine our talks and with so much love he gave me a sweater to wear. It used to get nippy those days in 60s so I told him ‘I will not return it, can I take it?’ He happily gave it to me with a lot of love. Then we were shooting one day; he would tell me wear my suit and I told Saira ‘I have got my own, will wear my own cause his are a little loose’ and I couldn’t say no to him then I reminded him, ‘Dilip sahib I took your sweater’ since nobody forgets if they have bought something nice so he said, ‘Yea I got 2 from Paris, one Nasir took and the other you took.” Dilip Kumar and Dharmendra

• Once, Congress parliamentarian Lilavati Munshi raised the issue of Dilip Kumar’s hairstyle while he was in the Rajya Sabha. She said,

It had “adverse effects” on Indian youths.”

Dilip Kumar with Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Dilip Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar

• In 2008, a Hindi documentary ‘Abhinay Samrat Ki Dastan’ was released on the life of Kumar.

Dilip Kumar’s Twitter account

• In an interview, while talking about the new age actors, Dilip Kumar said,

Yes, most of today’s actors are thinking that what is kept in literature. I have to say that literature works to keep your sensibilities alive. We have become friends with machines as if we too have become machines. I have read a lot of writers like Mir, Ghalib, Tagore, Iqbal, Faiz, Josh, Premchand, Sharatchand and Manto. These are the writers everyone should read. All the great writers of the world should read. But very few actors of today read literature. This round is looking a little too fast, but it should be considered whether this fast race will be successful in taking a person somewhere.”

Dilip Kumar featured on the Filmfare magazine’s cover

• He was well-versed in speaking various languages including Pashto, Hindko, Urdu, Hindi, and English.
• Dilip Kumar was very close to the famous Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan . In an interview, Dilip’s wife Saira said that Shah Rukh Khan was their mooh-bola-beta. She further said,

Dilip saab gave the ceremonial clap (Dil Aashna Hai). I have always said that if we had a son, he might have looked like Shah Rukh. Both he and saab are a lot alike and have similar hair, which is why I like to run my fingers through Shah Rukh Khan when we meet. This time (during one of their earlier meetings) he asked me, ‘Aaj aap mere baalon ko haath nahin laga rahi hain?’ I was happy to.” Dilip Kumar with Shah Rukh Khan and Saira Banu

• Once, Dilip Kumar said that he was one of the poorest actors in India, he further said,

My costumes and everyday clothes are stitched by the tailor on Pali Naka who had been making my cloths ever since I started living in Bandra. I have my own barber who visit my house once in a month.”

• In the Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Mumbai, an auditorium has been named after him with the name ‘Dilip Kumar Auditorium.’ In an interview, the college officials said,

The College hall has been named after the alumnus and thespian actor Dilip Kumar. This center is amphitheater for budding talents. Having a proper stage with a green room facility, the college hall has a 500 plus seating capacity. Apart from being the venue for formal functions, the hall is also used for events like drama competitions, literary events, Kavi-Sammelan, Mehfil and allied artistic pursuits.”

• Dilip and Saira did not have any child of their own. During an interview, while talking about it Dilip said,

It would have been great if we had our own kids. But we have no regrets. We are both submissive to the will of God. As for incompleteness, I must tell you that neither Saira nor I can complain of a lack of contentment. It is enough for us that we have our families to share our happiness and our small dismays with. Mine is a large family, with so many nieces and nephews and their families of growing kids speaking the language of today, which is as bewildering as it is befitting the times they are living in. Saira’s is a small family comprising her brother Sultan and his kids and grandchildren. We feel we are lucky to be there for them when they need us.”

• In an interview, while talking about Saira Banu , Kumar said,

I wish to live for the happiness of my wife. I knew and know even more strongly now that she loves me as no one, other than my mother, has. I wish to live for her love and devotion. It is so lovely to wake up and see the preparations she has done to make each day worth living for. In fact, our common wish now is to care for, and make, each other happy. You have to be truly lucky to be in my place.”

• In 2013, he visited Masjid al-Haram (The Great Mosque of Mecca), Saudi Arabia, along with his wife and a few relatives. In an interview, Kumar said,

Allah has been kind that he’s given me the strength to go on Umrah (pilgrimage) with Saira, Asif, Faisal… My doctor friends, few relatives are also accompanying me to Umrah. Keep me in your prayers.”

• As he was getting older, he suffered from various age-related ailments. Later, he was detected with prostate cancer which had spread in the other organs of his body. After a prolonged illness, he passed away on 7 July 2021 in Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, and on his demise, one of the doctors involved in his treatment said,

He had water in pleural cavity and suffered kidney failure. He required blood transfusion multiple times. We carried out the last transfusion but it did not help.”

• On 7 July 2021, he was wrapped in a tricolour flag and with the full state honour, he was buried at the Juhu Qabrastan in Santacruz, Mumbai. Many Indian actors like Amitabh Bachchan , Shah Rukh Khan , Ranbir Kapoor , and Dharmendra were present at his last rites.
• On his demise, many Indian and Pakistani celebrities shared their condolences on Twitter. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi tweeted,

Dilip Kumar Ji will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP.”

• Even the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was disheartened to know about Dilip’s demise. He tweeted,

Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar’s passing. I can never forget his generosity in giving his time to help raise funds for SKMTH when project launched. This is the most difficult time – to raise first 10% of the funds & his appearance in Pak & London helped raise huge amounts. Apart from this, for my generation Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor.”

• The legendary Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan tweeted,

An institution has gone… Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be ‘before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar’ … My duas for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss. Deeply saddened.”

• In July 2024, it was reported that his Bandra bungalow-turned-apartment was sold for Rs. 155 crore.

References/Sources: [ + ]

• Entertainment

Dilip Kumar: A connoisseur of Urdu language and literature

My father always said, if you want to refine your Urdu language skills, then watch Dilip Kumar movies. He was called an institution not only because of his acting skills but his fluency in Urdu as well as several other languages including Hindi, Hindko (his first language), Punjabi, Marathi, English, Bengali, Gujarati, Pashto, Persian and the Awadhi and Bhojpuri dialects. His eloquence, diction and dialogue delivery changed the entire landscape of Indian cinema.

Urdu, which was also the courtly language before independence, was used to write films' screenplay, dialogues and lyrics. Dilip Kumar, in films as well as in real life, spoke the most refined Urdu. His pronunciations were just too nuanced. He knew that the correct word for forgiveness is 'Muaafi' and not 'maafi'. He was educated enough to know that the word has Arabic origin. That was Kumar- a voracious reader, ardent literature lover and a connoisseur of arts.

Born to a fruit seller in Peshawar, Yusuf Khan had big dreams. He wanted to become a businessman, however, destiny has some other plans for him. Owing to his proficiency in Urdu, Yusuf Khan got his first job as a scriptwriter. He used to help in the scripting and story-writing department of a studio. Things went on and Yusuf changed his name to Dilip Kumar to begin his acting journey with the movie 'Jwar Bhata.'

He became a heartthrob of Bollywood within no time just because of his seminal work. He would improve his dialogues and add a lot of words that were never part of the original script.

Describing Kumar's diction and language, Lyricist and poet Gulzar had once said, "Dilip Sahab ki zabaan hamare culture ki zabaan hai, Indian cinema ki zabaan bhi toh Urdu hai."

Besides, Javed Akhtar time and again appreciated Dilip Sahab for the kind of influence he has had on our society. "The influence that Dilip Kumar has had on our society is very profound, more than

people can recognise. Our actors, even today, draw from his ways of performing. Many of them don't know that they have learned it

Akhtar said that Dilip Kumar, unknowingly, inspired generations to come by his language skills. He taught that acting does not have to be over-dramatic. "His delivery as an actor also unknowingly had an impact on writers and how they construct scenes. The incredible ease he had with Urdu made it more accessible as a language of the screen," said Akhtar.

He was part of some classic films like Andaz (1949), Jogan (1950) Deedar (1951), Daag ( 1952), Sangdil (1952) and Devdas (!955) and quickly became the 'Tragedy King of Hindi Cinema'. Later, many others like Manoj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Meena Kumari and Sanjeev Kumar adopted his style but nobody could match up to the standards that he had set.

Kumar's mental state was impacted by doing too many tragic roles and at the suggestion of his doctor, he shifted to comic and romantic movies. The legend once again did not disappoint his fans. His comedy was as effortless as his previous works.

Not many would know but Young Dilip was rejected as an actor in his early days and he had to change his name from Yusuf Khan to Dilip Kumar because the appeal of 'Kumar' (surname) in the initial days of Hindi cinema was as good as 'Khan' in the 20's. In fact, Ashok Kumar's (who was an established star by then) real name was Kumudlal Ganguly but to get the 'universal acceptance', he had to forgo his Bengali identity. It is also apt to mention that during those early years of cinema, working in films was disregarded by society at large. Even prostitutes denied working in cinema calling it 'immoral'. Many early actors also used pseudonyms just to hide their original identities. Madhubala, Meena Kumari and Johnnie Walker were Muslims in real life but they went ahead with their screen names to not defame their 'families' reputation'. Dilip Kumar changed the way the film industry was looked at. He proved that the profession was as good as any other job. And that there is dignity in every work.

Having professed a Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb throughout his life, Dilip Kumar earned credibility which transcended Bollywood, making him a public figure who is both widely admired and respected.

Rest in peace, Yusuf Sahab!

Waqar Ahmed Fahad

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Exclusive: gulzar remembers dilip kumar, his khoobsurat urdu and his 'o yaara', gulzar talks to us about his memories of the legendary dilip kumar.

It's well known how a remark from the late Dilip Kumar made Lata Mangeshkar determined to learn Urdu when she was just starting off as a playback singer in the 1940s. Dilip saab was very particular about the use of Urdu both in terms of diction and delivery, and who better than veteran filmmaker, writer and poet Gulzar to tell us about Dilip saab's affinity to Urdu.

"I knew Dilip saab quite closely, I was an assistant on his film Sunghursh in 1968, he was a senior. Urdu unki zabaan thi . His medium was Urdu - Pashto, Persian. He was a Pathan from Peshawar, so his mother tongue was Pashto, he knew Farsi as well, Farsi is Persian. Unki Urdu bahut khoobsurat thi, Urdu ka talafuz bahut sahi tha . He came from a family that traditionally spoke Urdu in day-to-day life, either Urdu or Pashto, which is also a very beautiful language," recalls Gulzar.

Dilip Kumar started his stint in films as a scriptwriter for Bombay Talkies, so he was well-versed in writing dialogues and scenes in Urdu. He continued to do that even as an actor. "Dilip saab used to write very well in Urdu as well. He used to write his dialogues in Urdu to memorise them. He used to add to his own lines as well, it was well-known that Dilip saab used to write his scenes himself, to memorise them and he was fond of writing as well," says Gulzar.

'Dilip saab Loved Reciting Nazeer Akbarabadi'

The 86-year-old writer and poet also remembers Dilip saab's fondness for poet Nazeer Akbarabadi. "I have heard him quote Nazeer Akbarabadi's nazms several times. He used to recite them beautifully. Somewhere this has been a tradition with the whole of Punjab and the North West Frontier. He used to quote from several poets but Nazeer Akbarabadi was a constant in Dilip saab's recitations. He used to be passionate about reading Akbarabadi's poems. During the making of Sunghursh, we were together, I was the writer and assistant, we were shooting in Bangalore. At that time I listened to several poetry recitations by Dilip saab and many of them were Nazeer Akbarabadi's writings."

Dilip Kumar with Shah Rukh Khan at an event.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)

Gulzar also reminds us that Dilip saab ki zabaan hamare culture ki zabaan hai , " Indian cinema ki zabaan bhi toh Urdu hai . Even after Independence for 25-30 years the same language continued, then the flavour of Hindi was added to it. What we call Hindustani today is a mix of Urdu and Hindi. For example, when we say izzat, we don't say ijjat, we pronounce it as izzat . Similarly, we say zyada not jyada, so the sounds of Urdu have been added to Hindi and it has made it beautiful. Also, there are sounds from Hindi which have become a part of Urdu, for example, if I say " bada gunnvati aadmi hai " the word " gunn " is from Hindi, from Sanskrit. Urdu zabaan Hindustan ki zabaan hai, Hindustan mein hi bani hai. Iski script zaroor Persianised hai, lekin zabaan jo hai woh typical Hindustani hai. Dilip saab ki zabaan hamare culture se mili hui zabaan hai, hamare hi culture ki zabaan hai. "

On Dilip Kumar's Cold War with Vyjayanthimala

During our conversation, Gulzar chuckles and remembers an episode between Dilip saab and Vyjayanthimala on the sets of HS Rawail's Sunghursh.

Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in  Sunghursh.

"I remember, I was writing Sunghursh for HS Rawail, and Dilip saab used to speak typical Pathani Punjabi. He used to call me with a typical Pathani expression like, "O yaara... O yaara...!" or "O yaara... ik gall sunn" he used to speak in Punjabi like that. During those days, he and Vyjayanthimala were not on talking terms, they had had a fight. But when they did romantic scenes together, no one got to know that they were having a cold war. Since I was the writer and assistant on the film he used to tell me, "O yaara, oo kudi nu kehde zara dekh le", he meant - 'I am rehearsing, so ask her (Vyjayanthimala) to see my movements'. At that time they didn't speak to each other, kutti thi dono ki."

Gulzar On Dilip Kumar's Special Appearance In 'Koshish'

I remind Gulzar that Dilip Kumar had made a friendly appearance in his film Koshish starring Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri. It's a scene in which Sanjeev and Jaya (who play deaf and mute) dial random numbers from a public telephone and one of the calls happen to reach Dilip Kumar's home.

Dilip Kumar in  Koshish.

"I wanted a shot in which Dilip Kumar picks up the phone, that Sanjeev Kumar dials randomly. So I requested Dilip saab, and told him that I am making a film on a deaf and mute couple, at that time we used to say 'deaf and mute' only. Dilip saab agreed, he was shooting at Raj Kamal studios for Bairaag at the time, so he asked me to come there. Asit Sen was the director of Bairaag, so I asked him for permission to get my camera and take one shot of Dilip Kumar. But Dilip saab said, you just come on your own and told Asit Sen to shoot the scene on his camera and give me the footage after developing it. Dilip saab said - 'why do you want to lug a camera around all the way for just one shot?' So Asit da also agreed, I knew both of them very well," remembers Gulzar on how Dilip saab's cameo came about.

When Dilip Kumar Shot for Gulzar Again

Koshish wasn't the last time Dilip Kumar shot for Gulzar. The thespian agreed to do a public service video that Gulzar was making for an institute for the deaf without any qualms.

"I made a promotional film for an institute of the deaf which used to be here in Mumbai. For that I requested Dilip saab to give me 4 hours for a shoot. At that time he used to work for an association for the blind. It was very very graceful of him to give us his time and work for that video for the institute of the deaf. He brought 3 or 4 dresses from his home because he didn't know what the set was like. He told me - 'I have got 3 or 4 different colours, see what suits you best'. He spent almost the entire day shooting for the promotional film. He was a great man."

A great man with a gentle heart indeed.

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