100 Years of Dilip Kumar: A life in pictures
On Dilip Kumar's centenary, here are the moments, movies and milestones that shaped his legendary journey
Dilip Kumar was born Mohammed Yusuf Khan in Peshawar, then in British India.
In the 1930s, his family relocated to Bombay, where his father set up a fruit export business.
He had a large family — five brothers and six sisters.
Yusuf Khan, young, handsome, well-read, was offered an acting position at Bombay Talkies by Devika Rani. She also gave him his stage name Dilip Kumar.
Dilip Kumar made his acting debut in the black-and-white drama Jwar Bhata (1944)
His first success, however, was the controversial romantic comedy Jugnu (1947) with Noor Jehan
Dilip Kumar was close to Raj Kapoor and the Kapoor family. They appeared together in the triangular romance Andaz (1949) with Nargis
The great Bimal Roy directed Dilip Kumar in three classics — Devdas, Yahudi, Madhumati
One of the great pairings of Indian cinema, Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala. Their easy chemistry and comedic banter elevated several fine films
Lost lovers - Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in Mughal-E-Azam
The co-stars had a tumultuous romance and were meant to marry. However, Kumar declined, unwilling to have his career dictated by Madhubala’s father
Kumar was once told by an astrologer that he would marry a girl half his age, who belonged to the same profession. The prophecy materialized in the form of Saira Banu.
Dilip Kumar is canonized, perhaps a bit too eagerly, as the pioneer of Method Acting in India.
Yash Chopra contests this in his tribute in Kumar's biography, writing, 'Dilip Sahab is not method actor as many cineastes think. He is a spontaneous actor who draws from his inner emotional reserve'
Famously dubbed The Tragedy King, Dilip Kumar had a gentle way with humour and farce, often teaming up with Johnny Walker in rollicking set pieces
In the landmark Gunga Jumna. Kumar starred in this classic tale of sibling rivalry and outlaw justice with his real-life brother, Nasir Khan.
He was offered Omar Sharif's turn in Lawrence of Arabia but turned it down.
Dilip Kumar with Jawaharlal Nehru. The late Prime Minister took a keen interest in Kumar, with their shared ideals of secularism and nation-building reflected in his movies
He was briefly married to a woman named Asma Rehman from Hyderabad. Kumar, already wedded to Saira Banu, annulled his second marriage in 1983
Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray shared an uneasy friendship with Dilip Kumar. Millennials would call them 'frenemies'.
Dilip Kumar stood tall against the communal tumult of the 90s. 'What is taking place is irreligious and ungodly bestiality,' he said of the Mumbai riots
With Amitabh Bachchan in their iconic and singular team-up, Shakti
A lifelong bibliophile, Dilip Kumar read vastly and insatiably
Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan in one frame
Conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2015
Dilip Kumar passed away on July 7 in 2021. He was 98. He is survived by his wife, Saira Banu, and millions of fans.