Dilip Kumar, one of the biggest stars of the golden age of Indian cinema in the 1940s to 1960s, died Wednesday, July 7, at the age of 98, a family friend announced. “With a heavy heart with deep sadness, I announce the death of our dear Dilip Saab, a few minutes ago”, Faisal Farooqui tweeted using the actor’s official account who was ill.
Fruit seller born in Peshawar – a city now in northern Pakistan – Kumar overcame early failures and the disapproval of his family to triumph in his acting profession and become one of Bollywood’s biggest stars.
Nicknamed “The king of tragedy” for its natural gravity, it has appeared in nearly sixty films in over half a century. He probably missed the opportunity for an international career by turning down David Lean’s offer to play Cherif Ali in Lawrence of Arabia, released in 1962. It was ultimately Omar Sharif who accepted the role.
One of his most famous performances remains his role in Mughal-e-Azam, one of the greatest hits of Indian cinema which tells the legendary story of an impossible love between a Mughal prince and his slave.