Dilip Kumar, one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 98, after returning from an Indian hospital, where he was admitted following complaints of breathlessness last week.
Born as Yusuf Khan in Peshawar, now a major Pakistani city in the northwest of the country, he was widely known for being a pioneer and the greatest star of Indian cinema in the middle of the 20th century.
He was a wildly popular actor among generations in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, and starred with some of the greatest actresses of that time including Nargis, one of the greatest actresses ever in South Asia, and Noor Jehan, one of the greatest singers of all time.
Indian and Pakistani political leaders, film stars, and artists were among millions of people who received the news of his death with a heavy heart, paying tribute to him in social media posts and recalling some of his mega films including Aan, Andaz, and Mughal-e-Azam.
Bollywood’s top filmstar Shah Rukh Khan, who had a close relationship with Dilip Kumar and considered a father figure to him, visited Saira Bano, Dilip Kumar’s wife and former actress, to express his support in the hour of loss.
Amitabh Bachhan, the great star of the 1980s, also paid glowing tributes to Dilip Kumar as many prominent leaders recalled his versatile acting and being the first mega filmstar of India.
