MUMBAI, July 7:
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar died at a Mumbai hospital today morning and was laid to rest with full state honours in the evening, his death a testament that end of an era can be more than just a cliché. He was 98.
The actor, known to generations of film-goers as ‘tragedy king’ for his portrayal of the brooding, intense romantic in classics such as “Mughal-e-Azam” and “Devdas”, is survived by his wife Saira Banu.
Kumar, an enduring legend through his decades in cinema and in public life, had been admitted to the Hinduja Hospital, a non-COVID-19 facility in Khar, since last Tuesday.
“He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am,” Dr Jalil Parkar, who had been treating Kumar, 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,” family friend Faisal Farooqui posted on the actor’s Twitter handle at 8.01 am.
Kumar’s body was taken to his Pali Hill residence around 9.30 am where friends, political leaders and colleagues, including Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Shah Rukh Khan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, paid their respects.
“I am very sad today, I can’t say anything. I’ve lost my brother,” an emotional Dharmendra told reporters outside Kumar’s residence.
The screen icon, who embodied the best of India with his films and in his public persona, was accorded a State funeral, his body wrapped in the tricolour and a gun salute sounding out.
The actor was given a tearful sendoff at the Juhi Qabrastan at Santacruz shortly before 5 pm with just close family members present given Covid protocols.
The Hindi cinema veteran, the last of the golden troika with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand and one of India’s most venerated stars, was admitted to hospital last month following episodes of breathlessness.
The actor had been battling ill health for the last few years, including advanced stage prostate cancer and lung disease, and had been in and out of hospital.
Kumar, born Yousuf Khan in Peshawar on December 11, 1922, underwent a successful aspiration procedure to treat his lung condition, doctors said. He was discharged after five days only to be admitted to the hospital again.
Condolence messages for the much-loved star, who had been an integral part of India’s societal fabric, poured in from all quarters with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining political leaders, the film fraternity and others to express their grief.
“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,” the President said.
The Prime Minister said Kumar would 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,” Modi said on Twitter.
Amitabh Bachchan, who co-starred with him in “Shakti”, said 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 (prayer) for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss… Deeply saddened.”
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar said the screen icon had been ailing for a while.
“Yusuf Bhai was ill for the last many years, could not recognise anyone. At such a time Saira Bhabhi left everything and served him day and night. There was no other life for her. I bow to such a woman and pray that Yusuf Bhai’s soul rests in peace,” she tweeted. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
