Pakistan
President Arif Alvi, ministers mourn the loss of legendary Dilip Kumar
Islamabad: President Arif Alvi and other federal ministers are mourning the loss of legendary actor Dilip Kumar who passed away earlier today.
Taking to twitter, President Alvi termed Dilip Kumar as ‘an outstanding actor, a humble man, and a dignified personality’. He further extended condolences to his family and fans.
“May his soul rest in peace,” he added.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry said that the late actor was an Iconic her.
“Loved by Millions of people in the sub continent and around the world tragedy king will be missed always... RIP Yousaf Khan aka Dilip Kumar,” he wrote.
Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that Dilip Kumar was a legendary actor and his loss cannot be replaced.
Moreover, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkahwa (SACM KP) for Higher Education Kamran Bangash and PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed has also extended condolences over the demise of Dilip Kumar.
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar died this morning after prolonged illness. He was 98.
Dilip Kumar, had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hinduja Hospital, a non-COVID-19 facility, since Tuesday. He had been frequently ill for months.
A family friend Faisal Farooqui posted from the actor's Twitter handle, “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,"
The veteran actor had been in and out of hospitals in the last one month and the family was hoping he would get better.
Kumar is the pioneer of realistic acting. He was the first one who brought the element of realism in acting in Bollywood.
The legend is survived by his wife, Saira Banu, a Bollywood actress herself. The couple have no children.
Born in December 1922 in Peshawar - in what is now Pakistan - before the partition of India. Like some of his Muslim contemporaries, he took on a Hindu name ‘Dilip Kumar’ when he joined the Hindi film industry. His real name was Yusuf Khan.
The legend made his acting debut in 1944 with Jwar Bhata and acted in over 65 films in his film career.
In 1947, a drama ‘Jugnu’ opposite Noor Jehan, was the first major hit for Kumar.
He became famous as the ‘Tragedy King’, but he also showed his superb comic timing in films including Daag (1954), Devdas (1955), Azaad (1956), Naya Daur (1957), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Ganga Jamuna (1961), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Dastaan (1972), Kranti (1981), and Karma (1986).
The ‘Tragedy King’ was last seen in ‘Qila’ in 1998.