A TRIBUTE TO THE ORIGINAL SUPER STAR: DILIP KUMAR aka YUSUF KHAN.

DILIP KUMAR – 11^th December 1922 – 7^th July 2021

The greatest actor of Indian cinema – ever. 

“Surely to Allah we belong, and to HIM we shall return.” (Qur’aan 2:156)

To write an obituary of a person like Dilip Kumar is easy as well as most difficult.  His biodata and achievements are open books. He was not only a national figure, but also an international personality.

Let me begin with one of his favourite poems (shairi) in Urdu:

Sukun e dil ke liye kuch to ehtemaam karoon
Zara nazar Jo miley phir unhein salaam karoon
Mujeh to hosh nahin aap mashwara dijiyey
Kahan se chedoon fasana kahan tamaam karoon
                     -Dilip Kumar-

If these couplets are translated to English its nearest meaning should be:
Let me respectfully prepare for the peace of mind,
Let the eyes meet, so I can send my greetings,
I am out of my senses you advise me,
From where should I begin this episode and where should I end.

He shone brightest for more than 60 years in the film industry. Light of his stardom will always shine in the film industry. His films will remain “text books” for current and future actors. 
He being a transparent figure, to write his bio data makes no sense. But in a nutshell, I will say: 
Mohammed Yousuf Khan was born on 11th December 1922, adopted the screen name of Dilip Kumar. Started his career in films in the year 1944. From his first picture ” Jawar Bhatta” he brought style in acting, different from all and soon his acting was recognised and he was branded as the method actor. 
He was Unbeatable. A poet, A linguist (fluent in 10 languages) an orator, a speech maker, a public speaker, a judge, an arbitrator, a crowd puller and what not. Poetry, music, reading and sports were his passion. Not only watching but he was fond of playing football, cricket, badminton and chess. Kite flying season was always looked forward to. He loved to participate in “mushairas” (recitation of poetry) and singing at private music parties. 

The thespian believed it was not mandatory that the friends one makes in life should be of the same temperament and nature. Thus, he had on his list of friends, people from all different positions, ranks and professions. Ranging from politicians to sportsmen to artists and his co-stars. In reel life he was a tragedy king and in real life great comedians like Agha, Muqri, Johnny Walker and Mehmood were his close friends. 
He also believed that it was a responsibility for actors to possess a reasonable degree of social responsibility. An actor who is adored by millions of people owes something to the society which has given him the elevated and highly respected position. 

He has served innumerable philanthropic and social causes in this manner.  Notable is his founding and sponsoring of National Association of the blind (NAB) where he served as its chairman for many years till recently when he retired from public life. The idea of forming the association came to him when he played the blind man’s role in film “Deedar” 

During the making of film “Kohinoor” where he was supposed to play Sitar, he actually learnt how the instrument was played, and played with ease. That was his dedication.
“acting is not to act” he once said.

Very few people know that the great ghazal singer, late Mehdi Hassan got inspired to become a world famous ghazal singer after watching Dilip Kumar rendering a ghazal in the Film “Babul”(1950). In 1957, when he performed his maiden stage show in Karachi, he received a great applause with the same “Babul” Ghazal. Since then, Mehdi Hassan never looked back and rest is history. In one of his interviews, he said “then, when finally, I encountered Dilip Kumar in person, my lifetime wish was fulfilled.”

In 1970 on a vacation with his wife Saira in London, they received an invitation from Buckingham Palace for a tea party to be hosted by the Queen. That was an annual event meant for important citizens, foreign visitors and members of diplomatic corps. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Queen mother, Prince Charles and Princess Anne were meeting guests. When the couple entered the scene, to Queen amusement lots of Asian Officials and high commissions and embassies swarmed around them for autographs and chat. When the Queen graciously shook hands with him, she smiled and told him “You are a very popular man! Delighted! How nice to meet you!”   That was his charisma.

In one of the charity stage show held in Dubai, famous late Moin Akhtar, who was the host, put forward a very tricky question to him. He asked him to compare Dilip Kumar, his reel name, with his real identity Yusuf Khan. His reply received a tremendous applause from the audience. He said something like “Dilip Kumar is a shadow of Yusuf Khan. The shadow grows and shrinks, and it can also disappear, but the substance is constant”.

Years later he would choose the title of his Autobiography on this statement: “The Substance and the Shadow”

Dilip Kumar won numerous awards and honours and has his name in the Guinness World Book of records. The government of Pakistan honoured him with their highest civilian honour – “Nishan e Imtiaz” 

It is an open secret that he never followed awards, but on the contrary the awards ran after him. When any new institutions or any associations start giving awards, Dilip Kumar’s name was mostly on the list.  21 years back when IFFA awards were inaugurated and venue chosen was London, he was selected by the committee for life time achievement award.

When he was approached for his concern and travel plans, he requested, he would be more than happy if the said award be given to his contemporary, his friend and neighbour, Mr. Sunil Dutt. He will be honoured if he presents the award to him. He would also bear his own travel expense. His request was granted.  However the committee still wanted him to be a recipient of their prestigious award and the in the year 2004 in Singapore he walked away with an award of “Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema”

Surprisingly, he has not been awarded a National Award or Bharat Ratna, the highest Indian civilian honour. Though after his retirement he was conferred with the life time achievement award. Lately his name was announced as one of the recipients of Padma Vibhushan, the second highest honour from Indian Government. But it is a well-known fact that such honours mattered little to him. Last year, many years after his retirement, he was conferred the Literacy award.

Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Khurshid Kasuri, in his book “Neither a Hawk nor a Dove” has let the cat out of the bag, disclosing political secrets:  I quote “it is not an exaggeration to say that he was the most influential cultural link between the 2 countries (India and Pakistan). He has lived for Hindu Muslim unity with equal conviction for friendship between 2 countries”

” the actor had visited Pakistan twice on a secret missions for the Indian Government” 

” He had intervened with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to help defuse the 1999 Kargil crises”

” He is a legendary apostle of peace apart from being a great actor” – unquote

It was not in his personality to blow his own trumpet. This real act as a peace maker has not even been mentioned in his own Autobiography “The substance and the shadow” This shows his humble nature and greatness.

Dedication and commitment towards the society in general and film industry in particular had always remained a strong point of his character. Many a times, in his active life, he was appointed as an arbitrator and even a judge.  There was a beauty poll conducted by Filmfare and he was appointed in the panel of judges where he was to give his vote to the most beautiful actress, sequence wise. It is interesting to note that Dilip Kumar was the only one who refused to vote saying beauty lay in the heart, and was not to be seen in woman’s face.

Khatija Akbar, author of the book “I want to live, a biography of Madhubala” was stunned when she first met him to take his interview.  In her words- “I entered his office, he was sitting alone at his table. There was quietness about him but his presence filled the room. Looking at him, I found myself struck by the most mesmerising pair of eyes ever.  It was an incomparable experience for he speaks with a degree of seriousness which gives weight. 

It is also a fact that if Dilip Kumar had not intervened, financier Shahpoorji Mistry would have backed out and the Mega classic and Colossal “Mughal e Azam” would not have seen the light of the day. Producer Director K. Asif remained indebted to him. 

Lord Meghanand Desai, in his book “Nehru’s hero Dilip Kumar” has compared and described many similarities between them. One of the similarities mentioned was both were elegant in their manners and speeches. Both have unmatched charisma. Dilip Kumar had met Nehru personally few times. Once Nehru allowed a 10-minute audience to him, but their conversation lasted for more than an hour!

Satyajit Ray, the great renowned director wanted to cast him in one of his movies. However, the script demanded the character be bare-chested. This caused the denial that put the whole project on the shelf.  Dilip Kumar always gave importance to modesty.  The question of modesty was also what made Producer Director Nasir Hussein to shelf his “Zabardast” with Dilip Kumar.

When Lata Mangeshker requested him to accompany her to give the opening speech and introduction, as protocol demands, for her first concert show in Albert Hall London, he willingly agreed.  Out of curiosity, he asked Lata Mangeshker what she had in mind as the opening song. She had selected a song from the film “Pakeeza.”  Lata ji read his face and asked if anything was wrong.  His view was that the song represented the environment of a brothel, and that seemed unsuitable for the opening of a great show. Lata ji thanked him for correct guidance and changed the opening song. 

On a personal note: he loved children and he always wanted to have his own, if not a few, just one, but fate remained unfavourable for him. White was his favourite colour; he felt incomplete without a white handkerchief in his pocket. Faiz A Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi were his favourite contemporary poets. Meena Kumari and Madhubala his favourite heroines.

Stalwarts of Indian Cinema have this to say for him:
Raj Kumar Hirani: I regret that I did not get a chance working with him.
Amitabh Bachchan: He is the best. Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be ‘before Dilip Kumar and after Dilip Kumar’
Jaya Bachchan:  Bharat Ratna should have been given to him a long time ago. Though for him, it is certainly beyond the lure of glory.
Aamir Khan: I believe there cannot be any greater fan of him than me in the film industry.
Madhuri Dixit:  I wish I would have born in his era and would have worked with him as his co-star.
Javed Akhtar: Dilip Saab is the first method actor in the world. He found a new grammar and language of acting. It is a matter of history.
Priyanka Chopra: when the history of Indian cinema will be written, his name would be on the first page.
One could go on and on, there is no dearth of comments. 

Actors and stars will come and go, but there shall never be another Dilip Kumar. He will remain immortal in his “celluloid university” where each of its frame would be a textbook, a lesson for other actors, stars and artists.

I recall a song from one of his earlier films, Mela (1948) 

“Dharti ko Aakash pukare
Aaja aaja prem dware,  aana hi hoga
Is dunia ko chod ke pyare,
Joothe bandhan tod ke sare, jaana hi hoga”

“Heaven is calling,
Come where love dwells,
Leave this false world and its relations (possessions),
You have to go my dear… Heaven is calling.”

The most respected personality of Indian Film Industry has left us for his final abode. Today he is no more and therefore he is much more. May Almighty rest his soul in peace. Ameen.

AK Bagha
Mwanza
Tanzania

Information gathered from:

•  Shadow and the Substance”
• An Autobiography of Dilip Kumar.
• ” Naushadnama” written by Raju Bharatan.
• “Last Emperor”written by 
• Sarjit Narwekar.
• “Star Legend of Indian Cinema” a biography written by Bunny Rubein.
• “A story of Madhubala” by Khatija Akbar. 
• .”Filmfare” a renowned film magazine.
• My own passion and memories.