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Dilip Kumar turns 95: Everyone’s invited, says Banu
On Dilip Kumar’s 95th birthday, veteran journalist Ranjan Das Gupta takes us back to the time when the thespian and Big B worked together
He is known as the tragedy kind of Bollywood but veteran actor Dilip Kumar’s life has been a fulfilling, invigorating journey that not many get to experience. With an acting career spanning over six decades and many blockbuster films to his credit, Kumar is one of the finest actors of his era.
As Dilip Kumar turns 95, his wife, actor Saira Banu, speaking exclusively to HT, says, “It is the love of millions of his fans that has blessed him with good health. I am overwhelmed to see it and to feel it.” After a prolonged illness, he was diagnosed with pneumonia last month. “Touchwood, he’s much better and on the road to recovery, but we have to be careful. We’ve been monitoring him at home and didn’t have to be away for the treatment,” says Banu.
Will there be a grand birthday celebration, like every year ? “I requested people not to fly in from all over the world— his fans, relatives, family friends — they all wanted to come in and wish him . It’s wonderful. But doctors have advised that sahab can’t be crowded around [by people] when he is recovering.” But it doesn’t stop them from keeping alive the age old tradition on Kumar’s birthday. “It will be an open house. Those who love sahab can meet him, but I have to be cautious that he doesn’t catch infection,” she says. Apart from visitors, it would be Kumar’s brothers, sisters and family friends, who would be a part of the quiet affair at home. “We will celebrate in a simple way. Being at home and cut the cakes. Lots of cakes come in and the whole house is flooded with flowers,” says Banu.
Banu recalls Kumar’s 89th birthday, when the entire film fraternity turned up for the celebration. She says it feels so good when younger actors visit him. “When Dilip sahab had seniors, he did the same for them. When Ashok [Kumar] uncle was unwell, sahab visited him despite being busy. When Naushad Ji, the great music director was ill, every evening sahab would sit by his side, and sing him songs. So, today, when youngsters such as Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and many others come to see sahab, it is like all the wonderful things are coming back to us. It shows the kind of love and respect they have for him,” she says.
It will be an open house on his 95th birthday. Those who love sahab can meet him and wish him SAIRA BANU, ACTOR
It was during the shooting of Zanjeer (1973) that character artist Om Prakash informed Dilip Kumar on phone that new actor Amitabh Bachchan had arrived. He could be a perfect foil to Kumar’s intense underplaying abilities. The thespian cherished the information, and decided to view Bachchan’s films: Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Deewar, Sholay and Kabhie Kabhie. “This dynamic actor makes me remember my acting during my youth,” Kumar had once said about Bachchan.
When Bachchan had his meteoric rise, Kumar was on the ebb as a hero. He had aged and his films Dastaan, Sagina and Bairag were flops. He had taken a break as an actor.
Bachchan has often said about Kumar, “I’m a true Dilip Kumar fan. I have seen almost all his films and will never forget Footpath, Devdas and Ganga Jumna. He is my inspiration, my idol.”
No one can deny that Bachchan is influenced by Kumar. His conscious method acting, dialogue delivery with pauses and silent expressions are proof. Kumar was never the angry, revenge-seeking type that made Bachchan legion. Bachchan lacked Kumar’s romantic charm and softness. Salim-Javed penned Shakti keeping both greats in mind. Ramesh Sippy has the unique distinction of getting the thespian and the angry young man to rub histrionic shoulders. During the script session, Salim Khan asked Dilip Kumar if he liked the script. “Bahut hi accha hai. Jab script sahi nahi hota tab kabhi majbooran kalam uthana parta hai,” he replied.
In 1981, Kumar made a glorious comeback with Kranti. Bachchan was moving from success to success with Dostana, Naseeb and Satta Pe Satta. The audience expected a clash of titans in Shakti. It initiated maximum initials at the box office. Bachchan was at his best in confrontation scenes with Kumar. His drunken scene and silent emoting after Rakhee’s death are unmatched. Yet, in totality, Kumar scored with his polished approach to method acting with five dialogue modulations and controlled body language. As DCP Ashwini Kumar, he excelled in every frame. His performance received rave reviews. Raj Kapoor commented, “Lale Ne Kamal Kar Dikhaya.”
However, this never disturbed cordial relations between Kumar and Bachchan. Rumors that Kumar altered the main script to suit himself were set aside. Shammi Kapoor, however, felt strongly that Bachhan needed more acting scope in Shakti. The two never came together in any film later.
In his later years, Dilip Kumar became monotonous. He was nowhere in comparison to the Dilip Kumar of Andaz, Jogan or Mughal-E-Azam. Amitabh was fortunate to be tried, tested, and experimented with in a variety of characters.