In a career lasting 54 years, Dilip Kumar did fewer than 60 films, a meagre number as compared to other leading men. But he picked his films and directors with care, so many of his films can be considered classics– eight Filmfare Award wins and eleven nominations stand testimony to his talent and success. Once he became a major star– forming a trinity with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand– he was rumoured to ghost direct his films, or at least be more involved than was required for an actor. It is tough to select just 10 of his memorable films, but here they are in reverse chronological order.
Karma (1991):
For an actor known to be fastidious, it was surprising that at a time when he had almost retired from acting he did three films with Subhash Ghai — Vidhaata, Karma and Saudagar. Choosing just one of the three hits– in Karma, he was paired with Nutan for the first time– strange that the two never worked together in heyday. He played a jailor, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, on the hunt for an escaped terrorist, Dr Dang (Anupam Kher), who killed his family. He hires and trains three criminals for the mission, also hoping to reform them in the process.
Mashaal (1984):
In the only film directed by Yash Chopra, he played an honest journalist Vinod Kumar, who realises that he can only beat the crime lord Vardhan (Amrish Puri), who burned down his press and caused the death of his wife (Waheeda Rehman) by becoming a bigger gangster than him. His chosen path brings him in conflict with his protégé Raja (Anil Kapoor), who wants to follow in the path of righteousness as a journalist like his mentor. The “Koi hai” scene in which Vinod begs for help as his wife is dying in the streets, is a master class in acting, and has been copied in several films.
Shakti (1982):
In Ramesh Sippy’s crime-cum-family drama, written by Salim-Javed at their peak, Dilip Kumar played top cop, Ashwini Kumar, who refuses to negotiate with gangster JK (Amrish Puri), who has kidnapped his son, Vijay. The boy grows up (Amitabh Bachchan) resenting his father, because the cop abandoned him to die. He starts working with JK’s rival Narang (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), who had spared his life during the crisis. Ashwini’s wife (Rakhee) can only look on as her husband and son get on to a destructive collision course.
Ram Aur Shyam (1967):
Tapi Chanakya enjoyable comedy-drama had Dilip Kumar playing a double role of twin brothers, separated at birth. Ram, ill-treated by his brother-in-law (Pran) grows up to be timid, while Shyam raised in a village by adoptive mother, is mischievous and brave. Fate intervenes to get them to trade places and mayhem ensues.
Ganga Jumna (1961)
In one of the all-time Hindi film classics, written and produced by Dilip Kumar and directed by Tapan Bose, he played Ganga who is forced to become an outlaw due to the zamindar’s atrocities; while his brother Jumna (his real life brother Nasir Khan) becomes a cop, tasked with eliminating the dacoit gang. Eventually, the brothers have a confrontation, in which Jumna has to choose between family and duty.
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
K Asif’s extravagant masterpiece, counted among the best and most successful films made in India, had Dilip Kumar as Prince Salim, who falls in love with the courtesan Anarkali (Madhubala). When his father, Emperor Akbar (Prithviraj Kapoor) opposes the romance, Salim goes to war against his father.
Madhumati (1958):
Bimal Roy’s reincarnation tale (written by Ritwick Ghatak and Rajendra Singh Bedi) had Dilip Kumar play a less dramatic role than he was used to, but no less effective. Anand, a timber estate manager falls in love with a tribal woman Madhumati (Vyjayanthimala), who dies resisting rape by the landlord Ugra Narayan (Pran). It takes a rebirth and complicated revenge plot to bring the villain to justice.Â
Naya Daur (1957)
BR Chopra’s rural drama has gone down in movie lore as the film that broke up the real life love story of Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. Her father refused to let her go on location to shoot the film, Chopra sued, Dilip Kumar testified on his behalf. The role was done by Vyjayanthimala, as the love interest of a tangewala, who opposes the entry of a bus service into their village, and challenges the bus to a race.
Devdas (1954)
Bimal Roy’s classic based on Saratchandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, which must be one of the most filmed books of all time. Dilip Kumar played the eponymous character, who turns to alcohol when he is not allowed to marry his beloved Paro (Suchitra Sen). Chandramukhi, a courtesan (Vyjayanthimala) loves Devdas, but cannot save him from self-destruction.Â
Aan (1952):
Mehboob Khan’s Indianised version of Taming of The Shrew, was India’s first Technicolour film and the most expensive production then. It was also dubbed and released internationally as The Savage Princess. Dilip Kumar played Jai Tilak, a village leader, who kidnaps an arrogant princess (Nadira) to force her to live like a peasant and understand how the common citizens live. Of course, by the end it, she falls in love with Jai.
