Legendary Indian actor Dilip Kumar passed away in Mumbai aged 98 and was buried with full state honours on July 7. The thespian behind a series of iconic films including ‘Devdas’ and ‘Mughal-e-Azam’. He was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai on June 30 after he complained of breathing issues. Faisal Farooqui, a family friend, took to the actor’s Twitter handle on Wednesday to announce his death.
“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,” he said.
Renowned British Indian peer and economist Lord Meghnad Desai is the biographer of the late actor, often referred to as the “King of Tragedy”, as the author of ‘Nehru’s Hero Dilip Kumar’.
Here is a special tribute penned by Lord Desai:
Dilip Kumar was the greatest actor not just in Hindi cinema but on a global scale. He was the most popular actor through the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies.
His style of acting, his sense of dress, his gait and his mannerisms were copied by many if the younger actors, who entered the film industry in the Sixties onwards. He was universally respected for his decency and for representing Nehru’s Idea of India. Over his 50-year-long career he made 60+ films in Hindi and Bengali.
He was versatile in playing tragedy or comedy, adventurous roles or someone fighting for justice. Generations of young Indians drew inspiration from his art as well as his conduct in public life.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government of India in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke award for lifetime achievement in cinema in 1998. He also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor eight times.
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