Mumbai, India (CU)_ Bollywood legendary actor and India’s iconic film hero Dilip Kumar died on Wednesday at a Mumbai hospital after a protracted illness. The actor’s family and the doctors who treated him announced the sad news. Dilip Kumar was 98 years old when he died. The actor is survived by his wife Saira Banu. He is well known for his performance in classics such as Mughal-e-Azam and Devdas. He is referred to as the tragedy king among generations of moviegoers for his romantic acting.
According to a tweet from his Twitter account, the last rites of the actor would be performed at 5 p.m. at the Juhu Qabrastan in Santacruz, Mumbai. Dilip Kumar, who has spent seven decades in public life, was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital in Khar on last Tuesday, which is a non-COVID-19 facility. Dr Jalil Parkar, who treated the actor, said, “He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am”.
Faisal Farooqui, the actor’s family friend shared the death news in his Twitter handle at 8.01 am. The tweet said, “With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return”. Last month, the Hindi film star was rushed to hospital following breathing difficulties.
Dilip Kumar was born on December 11, 1922 in Peshawar. He was diagnosed with bilateral pleural effusion, a build-up of extra fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs, and had a successful pleural aspiration treatment. After five days, he was discharged, and a few days later was admitted again.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the political leaders, the film community, and others in sending condolence messages for the much-loved icon, whose death really symbolized the end of an era. The President said, “Dilip Kumar summarised in himself a history of emerging India. The thespian’s charm transcended all boundaries, and he was loved across the subcontinent…Dilip Saab will live forever in the heart of India”.
According to the Prime Minister, Dilip Kumar would be regarded as a film legend. The PM tweeted, “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”.
Amitabh Bachchan, who co-starred with him in the film Shakti, said the industry has lost a great actor. He said, “… whenever the history of Indian cinema will be written, it shall always be ”before Dilip Kumar and after Dilip Kumar. My duas (prayer) for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss… Deeply saddened.”
According to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Dilip Kumar’s tremendous contribution to Indian cinema will be remembered for years. Dilip Kumar’s debut film Jwar Bhata was released in 1944, and his last film Qila was released 54 years later in 1998. Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Naya Daur, and Ram Aur Shyam were some of the best films he appeared in over a five-decade career, as were Kranti and Karma when he progressed to character roles.
