Dilip Kumar would have turned 103 today. The legendary actor died on July 7, 2021. His wife and veteran actor Saira Banu once shared an interesting anecdote about Dilip Kumar and Vinod Khanna.
What's Happening
- In an Instagram post, Saira Banu wrote, "Vinod loved Sahib incredibly. He was a very thoughtful man. Once, he and I were shooting at "Natraj Studios" for Guru Dutt's film "AAROP" directed by Atmaramji."
- She added, "On the very same day, Sahib was headed to the airport and I had requested him to stop by the Studio before his flight to Delhi. As Sahib arrived, Vinod, Johnny Walker Bhai, and I were rehearsing a scene. While Sahib walked in, Vinod disappeared somewhere."
- The post further read, "Soon after, Atmaramji sent assistants to look for him so that we could go ahead with the shot. Vinod took a pretty long to come onto the set, and Sahib had already left. As soon as Vinod appeared I asked him "Where were you for so long?" Vinod laughed and said, "Oh! Boy! Do you think I can act and perform while Dilipji, "The Master Of Acting" is watching? I would be shaking with nervousness! So I absconded!"
Background
Dilip Kumar was one of Hindi cinema's most influential stars, dominating the industry through the 1950s and 1960s. Over a career that lasted more than fifty years, he featured in 57 films.
He made his acting debut in 1944 with Jwar Bhata. From the late 1940s to the 1960s, he appeared in several of the highest-earning films of their time, including Shaheed, Andaz, Babul, Deedar, Aan, Uran Khatola, Insaniyat, Azaad, Naya Daur, Madhumati, Paigham, Kohinoor, Mughal-E-Azam, Gunga Jumna and Ram Aur Shyam.
Kumar also delivered some of his most celebrated performances in films such as Nadiya Ke Paar, Shabnam, Jogan, Tarana, Daag, Sangdil, Shikast, Footpath, Amar, Devdas, Musafir, Yahudi, Leader, Aadmi and Sunghursh.
His career slowed down in the 1970s, with Gopi being the only major hit of that decade. In 1976, he stepped away from acting for a few years, returning with the blockbuster Kranti. He continued taking on prominent roles in the years that followed, appearing in Vidhaata, Karma and Saudagar.
Kumar's final film was Qila, where he played a double role, though the movie did not perform well at the box office.
The legendary actor died in 2021 at the age of 98 after a prolonged illness. He had been dealing with age-related health issues and was diagnosed with pleural effusion in his final years.
