Dilip Kumar
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Yusuf Khan (Hindi: यूसुफ़ ख़ान ; Urdu: یوسف خان ; IPA: [ju:sʊf xa:n]) (born December 11, 1922) commonly known as Dilip Kumar (Hindi: दिलीप कुमार ; Urdu: دِلِیپ کُمار ; IPA: [d̪ɪli:p kʊma:r]) is an Indian film actor and a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
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[edit] Early life
He was born as Muhammad Yousuf Khan, in Peshawar, (British India), now capital of NWFP, Pakistan, in a Pakhtun family of twelve children. His father later relocated to Bombay (now Mumbai). He was spotted by a filmmaker who gave him his first job and his entry into the Bollywood film industry. He abandoned his real name, Muhammad Yousuf Khan, after a Hindi novelist suggested that he would have more success under the screen name Dilip Kumar.
[edit] Career
His first film. Jwar Bhatta, was released in 1944. In 1949, he co-starred with Raj Kapoor in the film Andaz, which went to become a major success and made him a star. Tragic roles in popular films such as Deedar (1951) and Devdas (1955) earned him the title of "tragedy king". The film Mughal-e-Azam (1960), in which he played crown-prince Jehangir, the son of Akbar, was also a huge hit. He produced and starred in the 1961 hit Ganga Jamuna. after his marriage to Saira Bano, he produced another movied he did not produce another film "Gopi" in 1970 featuring his wife Saira as his heroin.
In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Dilip Kumar acted in fewer films. Newer actors had taken the spotlight. However, his many fans were still willing to go see him in the character roles he increasingly favoured. His notable films in the 1980s and early 90s included Vidhaata (1982), Shakti (1982), Karma (1986) and Saudagar (1991) which were huge hits at the box office.
Dilip had a narrow brush with wider fame in 1962, when British director David Lean offered him the role of Sherif Ali in his 1962 blockbuster, Lawrence of Arabia. However, Kumar declined the part. The role eventually went to Omar Sharif, the Egyptian actor.
After his last film Qila (1998) he retired from the film industry and hasn't appeared in any film since.
Some of his older films have achieved the status of "evergreen classics", shown over and over again on television or cherished on videotape and DVD. A few of them, such as Devdas, Ram aur Shyam, and Ganga Jamuna, have been re-made several times. His film Mughal-e-Azam, which was originally released in black-and-white with several color scenes, was colorized in 2004 and re-released. Even in 2004, it did well at the box office.
[edit] Public life
He has been active in efforts to bring the people of India and Pakistan closer together. He has been a member of the upper house of Parliament since 2000 and is known for his extensive charity work.
He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994. In 1998 he was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award conferred by the government of Pakistan. He is the second Indian to receive the award; the first was former Indian prime minister Morarji Desai. Hindutva politicians like Bal Thackeray objected strongly to the award, and asked him to return it,[1], but Mr. Kumar held his ground. He refused, saying:
- "We need to look at this a little rationally. This award is not more important to me than our national interest. If it affects national interest, why would I want to hang on to it? But what does the award’s citation say? Does it say that this has been given to Dilip Kumar for his achievements in films? No, films are just a vocation for me. I do the best I can. This award was given to me for the humane activities to which I have dedicated myself. I have worked for the poor, I have worked for many years to bridge the cultural and communal gaps between India and Pakistan. Politics and religion have created these boundaries. I have striven to bring the two people together in whatever way I could. Tell me, what does any of this have to do with the Kargil conflict?" [2]
In 1980, he was appointed Sheriff of Mumbai, an honorary position.
[edit] Personal life
Kumar was said to be romantically linked to the actress Madhubala. It is claimed that Madhubala's family would not allow the couple to marry; some conjecture that this was because Madhubala was the main source of income for her family. [3]
Kumar and Madhubala were to appear together in Naya Daur, but Madhubala's father refused to allow his daughter to act with Kumar. The producer B.R. Chopra took Madhubala to court and Dilip Kumar testified against her. The former sweethearts were now on extremely bad terms. This complicated work on the film Mughal-E-Azam, which had started filming before the court case. It is said that Kumar and Madhubala, who were supposed to portray persecuted lovers, resisted filming any more love scenes.
Dilip Kumar married actress and "beauty queen" Saira Banu in 1966 when he was aged 44 and she 22. At the time, gossip columnists predicted doom for the high-profile couple, but Dilip and Saira have proved them wrong. Their union has been one of the longest lasting marriages in Bollywood.
[edit] Legal troubles
In 2001 the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Nashik issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Dilip Kumar in connection with a land-grabbing charge filed by a widow against him and his brother Ehsan Khan . [4]
In February 2006 a court in Hyderabad issued a non-bailable warrant against Dilip Kumar and two others in a Rs one crore cheque bounce case.[5]
[edit] Trivia
- Dilip Kumar's younger brother was the late Nasir Khan. He was less successful in acting and appeared opposite Kumar in Ganga Jumna (1960). Nasir Khan's son Ayub Khan is also currently an actor in the industry but has not been successful.
[edit] Awards and honors
- Dilip Kumar has won nine Filmfare Awards
- 1994 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinematic excellence
- 1998 - Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian award
[edit] Filmography
| Acting Filmography | |
| Qila (1998) | |
| Saudagar (1991) | |
| Aag Ka Dariya (1990) | |
| Izzatdaar (1990) | |
| Kanoon Apna Apna (1988) | |
| Karma (1986) | |
| Dharam Adhikari (1986) | |
| Mashaal (1984) | |
| Duniya (1984) | |
| Mazdoor (1983) | |
| Shakti (1982) | |
| Vidhaata (1982) | |
| Kranti (1981) | |
| Bairag (1976) | |
| Phir Kab Milogi (1974) | |
| Sagina (1974) | |
| Anokha Milan (1972) | |
| Daastan (1972) | |
| Koshish (1972) | |
| Gopi (1970) | |
| Sagina Mahato (1970) | |
| Aadmi (1968) | |
| Sadhu Aur Shaitan (1968) | |
| Sunghursh (1968) | |
| Sunghursh (1968) | |
| Ram Aur Shyam (1967) | |
| Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) | |
| Leader (1964) | |
| Gunga Jumna (1961) | |
| Mughal-E-Azam (1960) | |
| Kohinoor (1960) | |
| Paigham (1959) | |
| Madhumati (1958) | |
| Yahudi (1958) | |
| Musafir (1957) | |
| Naya Daur (1957) | |
| Azaad (1955) | |
| Devdas (1955) | |
| Insaniyat (1955) | |
| Udan Khatola (1955) | |
| Amar (1954) | |
| Footpath (1953) | |
| Shikast (1953) | |
| Aan (1952) | |
| Daag (1952) | |
| Sangdil (1952) | |
| Deedar (1951) | |
| Hulchul (1951) | |
| Tarana (1951) | |
| Arzoo (1950) | |
| Babul (1950) | |
| Jogan (1950) | |
| Andaz (1949) | |
| Shabnam (1949) | |
| Anokha Pyar (1948) | |
| Ghar Ki Izzat (1948) | |
| Mela (1948) | |
| Nadiya Ke Paar (1948) | |
| Shaheed (1948) | |
| Jugnu (1947) | |
| Nauka Dubi (1947) | |
| Pratima (1945) | |
| Jwar Bhata (1944) | |
[edit] Awards
- 1954, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Daag
- 1956, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Azaad
- 1957, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Devdas
- 1958, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Naya Daur
- 1961, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Kohinoor
- 1965, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Leader
- 1968, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Ram Aur Shyam
- 1983, Filmfare Best Actor Award, Shakti
Dilip Kumar holds the record for the most Filmfare Awards won in the best actor category.
