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play the sitar to be able to convincingly play was in the 1998 film Qila, after which he
it on screen for the song Madhuban Mein went into dignified retirement and was
Radhika Naache Re. never tempted to make a comeback. He did
Dilip Kumar had the talent, intelligence write his autobiography (with journalist
and star power to push for a change in Udaya Tara Nayar) titled The Substance
image. After Devdas, some of his best work and The Shadow, lifting the curtain on his
came when his screen characters stopped eventful life just a little to let fans have a
wallowing in tears and acquired some quick glimpse before he receded into the
rage. Naya Daur, Madhumati, Paigham, seclusion of his suburban bungalow, so
Kohinoor, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jumna, reports of his problems with dementia
Leader, Ram Aur Shyam, had many more were just speculated on. He believed that
shades for him to portray and truly come stars should never let their mystique fade
into his own as a star-actor. with overexposure to the outside world. He
He had popular screen pairings with remained till his passing at the age of 98, a
Kamini Kaushal, Nargis, Meena Kumari, legendary star loved by film fans, but really
Madhubala, Vyjayanthimala, Waheeda known by just a few in his inner circle.
Rehman, Nutan, Nimmi and had rumoured
romances with at least three of them.
After leaving a trail of broken hearts, he
wed Saira Banu in 1966, and despite all
predictions to the contrary, they had a
happy married life, with just one blip in the
form of Asma, whom he reported married
and divorced, but swore the reports were
fabricated.
Dilip Kumar’s last screen appearance was in the 1998
film Qila
When his career as a leading man started The autobiography of the great Dilip Kumar
waning, Dilip Kumar took a sabbatical and He earned the title of Thespian given to
returned to play strong character parts him by the media—he had, after all, done
in films like Kranti, Karma, Vidhaata, a string of successful films (a hit rate of
Mashaal, Mazdoor and Saudagar. A few 80 % is remarkable in show business) and
of his films were shelved for various established a style of performance that is
reasons, and his last screen appearance imitated by young actors to this day.
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