Dilip Kumar :: Actor of Actors was born today ! part 1
A chilled night in the winters of 1982. Telephone rings after mid night in one of the bungalows situated at Pali Hill. A sleepy male picks up the the reciever and hears
“ Mein Raj ! Abhi teri Shakti dekhi, Lale bas ho gaya faisla , there is only one Dilip Kumar in this country, nobody can touch his level” [ This is Raj, Just saw your Shakti and Boy, this is decided ultimately that there is no one like Dilip Kumar in this country].
Its clear that the energetic admirer who was showering bountiful of praises, was none other than the famous actor, director and filmmaker Raj Kapoor , the biggest showman of Hindi cinema:
The sleepy man who picked up the phone was obviously Dilip Kumar or Dilip Saab as all people call him.
Its said that during shooting of “Prem Rog” Raj Kapoor was not satisfied with the Rishi Kapoor’s way of enacting a particular scene and Rishi Kapoor was asked to give that scene again and again but Raj Kapoor was not getting satisfaction.
Raj Kapoor yelled from behind the camera,” Chintu mujhe Yusuf chahiye in this scene(chintu I need Yusuf in this scene)”. Rishi Kapoor was puzzled with that demand and he looked towards Raj Kapoor who explained to him that he needed what Yusuf (Dilip Kumar’s real name) would have done in this scene.
Other member of first trio of Super stars of hindi cinema, Dev Anand said in December 1994 that Dilip touched heights in the area of acting.
Such was the kind of respect within these yesteryears super stars for each other and though they were competitors in film business but that did not kill the humanity inside them and they accepted space occupied by others in same field.
Amitabh Bachchan wrote “ Uttam nahin sarvotam hain Dilip Kumar “ [ Dilip Kumar is the best ] in his special article in newspapers sometime in 1994 when Dilip Saab was offered Dada Saheb Phalke award.
Time and again, Amitabh Bachchan has been expressing his admiration for Dilip Saab and he once famously said that if an actor says he has not been inspired by Dilip Kumar then he is simply lying.
Amitabh Bachchan mentions in that article that in Shakti first time he was facing camera with Dilip Saab and he was bit nervous and though he hardly give retakes but that day he gave retakes for the scene which was shot first but used in the film in the climax.
Scene is there in the film where Dilip Saab is running after Amitabh at the airport and Dilip Saab warns him and Amitabh sees backwards and they see each other and Amitabh again starts running. Amitabh writes that as soon as he saw in eyes of Dilip saab he missed his next action and hence after few retakes scene was finalized by director Ramesh Sippy.
This was impact of working with childhood idol, through whose films Amitabh got inspirations.
Amitabh writes about his observation that biggest asset of acting part of Dilip Saab has been to connect with other actors present in the scene and the continuity with which he rejoins a scene whenever other actors are going for retakes because there is always a gap between performance of Dilip Saab and other actors present in the scene.
Kamal Hasan mentions in 2005 “I want my idol Dilip Kumar to know I consider him the ultimate actor before it’s too late. I’ve sent a poster of Ganga Jamuna to be signed by Dilip Saab.”
Raaj Kumar had worked with Dilip Kumar in Paigham year ago in 1956-57 and he was not known as easy man to approach or atleast his image was like this only. Its often said that Raj Kumar was such an actor who may look self indulged in films where he plays solo hero but whenever he appears with others then he virtually overshadows others with his histrionics.
Paigham was not a heavy dialogue based film and was a nice watch where both the actors had done remarkable work in the roles given to them but they did not appear together again. Subhash Ghai dared to cast this wonderful cast together for his film Saudagar. While Dilip Saab’s dialogue delivery has been mesmerising, Raj Kumar is also known for his wonderful voice and attractive dialogue delivery and both were masters of Urdu.
It was an interesting clash on screen. Its said that everybody tried to frighten Subhash Ghai and said that he would not be able to finish his film. But when Subhash Ghai visited Raaj Kumar and asked him if he would have any reservation, problem working with Dilip Saab, Raaj Kumar had replied,” Kyon Jani ! what kind of reservation, he is my biggest inspiration”.
One of the finest actor of present era Aamir Khan also idolises Dilip Kumar as most vulnerable actor.
Being a humanbeing , the person Dilip Kumar is mortal but actor Dilip Kumar has been immortal and will always remain. Years have passed and years will be gone but actors will be finding inspiration from acting talent of Dilip Kumar by watching his films.
Dilip Kumar has been dissolved in thousand of anecdotes. Thousand interesting stories concerned with many others have been revolving around Dilip Kumar one way or other. Who is who of hindi cinema have been having something with or from Dilip Kumar in any manner.
If big brother Baldev Raj Chopra was said to be made a film (Gumrah) based on a story inspired by love affair between very young Dilip Kumar in his early years of film career and already married Kamini Kaushal then its rumoured that younger brother Yash Raj Chopra’s Lamhe was also somehow inspired by Dilip Kumar. or Perhaps this story was written in 70s and Yash Chopra wanted tom make it with Dilip Kumar.
Both the Chopra brothers keep highest regard for Dilip Saab and have long association with him. Dilip Kumar was different and always very different. BR Chopra had purchased a story based on the life of a tongawala and he wanted to cast his then favourite actor Ashok Kumar in the role but Ashok Kumar either was busy in someother project or he felt that he was bit old and sophisticated and city based persona for that role so he suggested Dilip Kumars name. BR Chopra when contacted Dilip Kumar, he read the story but did not say yes and when BR Chopra again contacted Ashok Kumar and said that Dilip Kumar is not saying yes to his film, Ashok Kumar called Dilip Kumar and asked about BR’s film. DK said on this”That tonga wala’s story” Its too odd story”.
Anyhow Ashok Kumar convinced Dilip Kumar and once agreed Dilip Kumar said to BRC that story needed to be doctored so that on screen it looks convincing and he invited BRC on his houseboat and both spent one week time there and prepared the story as we see now in the film Naya Daur.
Film was talking about conflict between machinization and old professions and its said that people had complained to then PM Pt Nehru that a film has been made which opposes modernisation and Pt Nehru had sent then minster of broadcasting Lal Bahadur Shastri to see the film.
Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar and BR Chopra have another common tale. BRChopra had bought a story from IS Johar and he wanted to cast Dilip Kumar in the double role in this film but after reading the story Dilip Kumar felt he was too young to play that role and he suggested that BR should cast Ashok Kumar in the role and BR made that film (Afsana) with Ashok Kumar. But story remained in the mind of Dilip Kumar and after some years he said to BR that they should remake that film and years later BR made that film again with new title Dastan.
SRK’s get up in Sanjay Bhansali’s Devdas can have inspiration from Dilip Kumar in Dastan.
Dastan is what Sanjay Bhansali has tried in Sawariya. It brings the feeling as if different acts of a drama have been brought on the screen. It’s a stage based film and whole treatment is given in that manner though outdoor shooting is there but theatrical touch is there.
Dastan has to be seen for knowing how play double role rather it should be said that its not double role because Dilip Kumar actually plays triple role here.
One may feel offended if its mentioned that an actor like Nana Patekar can also be inspired by Dilip Kumar but watch Dastan and many mannerisms of Nana Patekar, which he follows in scenes, especially when he is completely lost in space and giving a long shot, can be found in Dilip Kumar’s role of Judge Vishnu Sahay of Dastan. It may be unknowingly but as mentioned above, every single actor acting in Hindi cinema has been inspired by Dilip Kumar in one way or other and in such a scenario its quite natural that we find similarities between others doings and what Dilip Kumar has already done years ago.
Rajendra Kumar and Manoj Kumar felt proud when people and critics said them as clones of Dilip Kumar. It has been a compliment for actors.
Dilip Kumar has truly lived characters mentioned in literature. The kind of involvement is seldom to witness which he had shown through his film career. If Naushad spent various nights in graveyard to search the right kind of tune to an immortal song “ Dharti ko Akash Pukare” for film Mela then Dilip Kumar spent many sleepless nights to go deeper in to the skin of his characters. He used his imagination to go in to the soul of his characters given to him in early years of his career.
He was not born actor. He was trashed by critics when appeared in first film as a non actor. People covering cinema in Times of India group of publication ridiculed him for years and many articles called him anaemic hero who never would be able to act properly.
When post success of Shahid and Mela, Mehbbob Khan signed him for his magnum opus Aan in a swashbuckling role of a warrior then his regular cameraman Ferdoon Irani had commented, from where you have brought this Monkey. Dilip Kumar had thick eyebrows and Ferdoon never liked him and his face.
But this same anaemic, monkey faced like person was going to become biggest hero of all time in Hindi cinema. Same Mehboob Khan who signed him for his most ambitious project Aan had rejected him few years ago for another film.
Mela was the declaration to the world that an extraordinary actor has been born from this film. There is a scene in Mela where Dilip Kumar’s screen father asks him to sit at his small shop till he comes back after meeting his friend and Dilip Kumar says,” Tum Jao Bapu, mein baitha hun na jab tak tum ate nahin, mein jaunga kahan bhala”. The way he says this dialogue, its so charming style and he wins the heart of audience. This is almost clear that dialogue writer might not have written the dialogue in this rounded manner in which Dilip Kumar had said it. He said all the words given in the dialogues to him but he made his own order of delivering those words and this speciality remained as special Dilip Kumar touch to the dialogues. He would never found to say dialogues in simple manner rather he used the manner which is known as kissagoi style of saying in Urdu school of dialogues.
If we listen to Dilip Kumar, Gulzar etc then we would be knowing what is this kissagoi. They don’t speak in flat manner rather they change the order of the words present in the sentence and though meaning remain same but now it looks more appealing and attractive.
Anyway, that scene of Mela is special because all the audience know that he is not going to sit at the shop of his father because this is time for him to go to meet his love interest Nargis and thus when he innocently and yet with mischivious smile says above mentioned dialogues, audience smile, accept and start loving this actor who so smoothly enacts the scene.
Dilip Kumar brought intensity in the portrayals. He brought styles in the portrayals. He became first actor to actually standing by showing his back to camera and turning his face little and deliver his dialogues from this side pose. He was never still in any scene and did anything to bring vitality in the scenes. In Madhumati one can see him jerking his coat and it falls on his hands and he speaks his dialogues in such a posture only while he is wearing the coat only at his waist and not on his shoulders.
He used even keeping his hands inside his pockets to say some other dialogues. He scratched his nose, forehead, ears or waved his fingers across his hair or simply spread his palms to emphasise some portion of his dialogues. He used fine wrinkles on his forehead to bring more intensity in sad and worry based scenes.
While he played blind in Deedar then he did not close his eyes but he actually visited a beggar for many days to study his mannerisms because Ashok Kumar had told him that this beggar keeps his eyes open while begging and Dilip Kumar was not interested in playing the role of a blind by simply keeping his eyes closed all through the film. The actor studied the beggar minutely and talked to him and then planned outline of the face of his character. Inspite of being blind there is always a smile on the face of Dilip Kumar in the film and that was special.
When he had to play the role of a young leader then he studied young fiery labour union leader George Fernandese and created an attractive young leader on screen in Paigham.
He used to be absorbed in his roles so deeply that while doing Devdas psychology of his character started affecting him and for sometime he was disillusioned and was unable to make proper difference between screen life and real life. UK based doctors helped him and advised him not to do any tragedy based roles for sometimes and hence he had to say no to Guru Dutt who had come to him for film Pyassa.
Rather he started doing light comedies like Kohinoor, Azad etc and won accolades there also and he showed he could do comedy of high standard also.
He had his own logics or morals to work and when Mehboob Khan approached him for his another big film Mother India then after knowing that Nargis would play mother of his character, he refused to do the film. He said,” actress has been so many times my lover on screen, it does not suit my mind that mein use parde par ma ma karta ghumun (that I start calling her mother on screen)”.
He never remained lusty for any role. When David Lean contacted him to play Ali in his ambitious project ” Lawrance of Arabia” then he refused to do that second lead. He never repented on his decision. He worked for hindi films and brought high standard of acting in his films.
He never worked like a machine and even if he enjoyed working in films he did not hanker after the films. He did what he liked and when did not feel to do any film then did not any film at all. Financial security questions did not defeat him to do films for the sake of money.
There is an anecdote that a producer Chandu Lal Shah wanted to cast him but he was not saying yes to him. Chandu Lal Shah told his situation to Mehboob Khan who had released world over his big film Aan and was a major producer of his times called Dilip Kumar and said,”Chandu Lal Shah is such a veteran producer and if you don’t wish to do his film then say him clearly why you are not replying him”.
Chandu Lal Shah called Mehboob to say thanks because Dilip Kumar had said yes to his film. Mehboob Khan out of curiosity asked him at what price he has signed Dilip Kumar. Shah said that he said he would give some thousand Rs to him and Dilip Kumar simply signed the documents. Mehboob Khan told Shah that do you know his market price? His market price was much higher than what Chandu Lal Shah had offered but he did the film Jogan and when film got big success then Chandu Lal Shah gave him the remaining money. Jogan is an unique film which cant even be released in todays time because of its theme.
Dilip Kumar is a man who relies on self study and he is not even graduate in terms of college based degrees but he has always been a knowledgeable man in whatever area he worked he knew too much about that area because of his habit to know the area completely.
People have written articles and have mentioned in their books written on him that how he himself was a good singer and how he played Sitar like a professional in a mehfil at Sharjah or Dubai.
Dilip Kumar was friends with people working at top in their respective areas. He used to attend cases in Bombay high court to listen legal debate fought by his friends who were top lawyers of their times. He was one of the biggest heros of his time but he had close friends in Johny Walker and character actor Mukri. This tendency is lost among film stars of these days. They are friendly with no one. Now status has become very important part of life of film stars.
Contd –
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Hi RK,
I read it somewhere that a person wrote a long letter to his friend and ended it with a disclaimer which said
Wow, didn’t know about so many incidents you’ve mentioned in this post! Happy Birthday Dilip Kumar!
@Udai (1),
Thanks for nice quote. But exactly similar is the situation.
“Sorry did not have passion, zeal and desire to write a short one”.
I am exposing you to a jungle and if you are desiring a well decorated and manicured garden or a bucket full of flowers then I am sorry that I cant do that with a person like Dilip Saab.
If one loves Dilip Kumar s/he will read more and more about him. Those who dont love him, its never targeted for them. Its sharing with lovers of Dilip Kumar.
With your style of writing I assume you yourself will be writing a blog and who knows you may be a professional writer so you also can write a wonderfully edited and to the point article on Dilip Kumar. Please write.
I am not intrested in showing whatever writing skill I can have. Not writing for any professional interest, desire or future based professional desire. I am generally not interested in editing while writing for non professional motives. having said while writing for professional purposes then will never would like to give reader a chance to complain. Mean will do best from my side.
But here factor is not my writing or editing skill but the subject and the matter.
Would love to keep more and more matter and as long as I can recall. Whatever I can recollect about Dilip Kumar I would like to keep it here.
Again repeating, I am not giving you articles having professional values, as that may help you to decide for your further reading.
There is no dearth of writers who can write in precise manner.
Sir Jhukane ko nahin kehate hain sajda karna
(bending the head does not mean one is offering a prayer)
I completely agree with you that editing is important aspect of any story telling or any conversation.
But as mentioned above, neither folliwng standard ways of story telling because not telling any story, nor making conversation. Simply sharing some juicy things which few lovers of Dilip Saab may enjoy. Rest never bothered about those who are profound as they dont need to be told anything. They already know it. Its for those who know but still can enjoy nth time because its about someone who they love. Its simple.
Thanks again:)
@Oz(2)
Yes Birth Day wishes to Dilip Saab.
May he live many more years to guide actors of Indian cinema.
He will not never read PFC but we can celeberate his Bday.
great write up ….long read but worth a read ..
^:)^*Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar *^:)^
Clearly the most overarated actor of all time…besides kkkkkkk…Shahrukh…
No need to post such madly eulogosing articles.
RK,
Amazing write-up. You are the best author on PFC. I have noticed the details and thoughts you put in your writings and responses and that makes me eagerly wait for your first directorial venture.
I disagree on dastaan though. I could not find any similarity between this and Sawariya( I have not see sawariya but read enough to know everything about it). Dastaan was simply superb. Those who have not seen it and want to watch a good suspense thriller, go for it. I have seen it thrice in last 15 years and it has been interesting watch each time.
Dilip saab besides being a grea actor is also amazing human being. His film selection speaks volume about self control and greed-less persona. Look at the way Amitbh sold himself out (Post shahenshah phase)
Dilip Kumar is simply the “God of Acting”. A very happy 85th birthday!!
I am the biggest fan of Dilip Kumar. I always tend to act, talk and bring the kind of sense of humour which Dilip Kumar saab brings. I pray that God brings him back in films so that Dilip saab can shower his magic on the younger generation who are so eager to see him.
May you live to be thousands!!
Dilip Kumar saab aur Kamini Kaushalji…hmmm
RK bhaiyya this is news to me and I keep track of EVERY scandal in town!!
Dilip Kumar….
cant beleive .. he is 85.
happy bday grand father of actors@};-^:)^< :-p:d/:)>-:)>-:p:):d>:d< [-o<:*=d>
MugleAzam, Ganga Jamuna wowwwwwwww
saw colored naya daur, luved it.
ude jab jab julfein teri kunwariyon ka dil machle
long live Dilip Kumar:d
jab tak suraj chand rahega
jab tak cinema jinda rahega
dilip kumar apka naam rahega
ha ha ha ha :d:))=))
Kishore Kumar said that Dilip Kumar was the best actor that Hindi Cinema has ever seen. He used to tell people ( who mattered ) that “Acting seekhni hai to Yusuf saab ko dekho”
@ RK
you said : Those who dont love him, its never targeted for them. Its sharing with lovers of Dilip Kumar.
But here factor is not my writing or editing skill but the subject and the matter.
—————–
thats what PFC is all about. Keep it up
KCP
@Anand Kadam (5),
Thanks for your kind comment. Old films used to be long so….. and Dilip saab used to take long pauses between words so….:)
@filmibhai (6),
“Dilip Saab and AB” may be termed as Father and son of Hindi cinema. AB took heritage from Dilip saab and cherished it. We could say AB is adopted son of Dilip Saab as far as hindi films are concerned:)
@Prashant (7)
When Johnny was asked by his teacher “how many crows would be left perched on the fence after the farmer shot three, when there were ten there
before he shot. “None” said Johnny. They would all fly away.
“Wrong,” said the teacher. “7, it was an arithmatic question, but I like the way you`re thinking.”
“Can I ask you a question sir ?” said our hero
“Certainly” said teacher
“Three ladies are eating ice cream, one is licking, one is sucking and the third is biting. Which one is married?”
Looking rather embaressed the teacher replied “the one sucking.”
“Wrong” said Johnny. “The one wearing the wedding ring, but I like the way you`re thinking.”
—–
Now a Christmas gift to you so that your always angry and negative mind gets some peace.
–
A mailman was delivering his mail during the Christmas season. At one house the door was opened by a beautiful woman wearing a sheer negligee.
“Would you like to come in?” cooed the woman.
“Sure,” replied the startled mailman.
She led him up to her bedroom and made love to him. When they were finished she got up and handed the man a dollar. “Why the dollar?” asked the puzzled
mailman.
“Well,” replied the woman, “when I asked my husband what to give the mailman for Christmas he said ‘Just give him a buck and f*** him!’”
—–
Though it may be the effect of cold place. So have a nice time and ofcourse nice feelings towards world.
@Jwalant (8), Thanks for your kind comment.
Like half of hindi cine industry especially actresses and Farah Khan and SRK I also have read Alchemist, though was knowing the prophecy before also and now I am also looking towards the Universe who (for me as its alive)/which (for those who take it as abstract) will conspire to make me realise what I want from bottom of my heart.
and not to mention at same time opposite will also be done like its being done at present also, means writing about films and people making films and who is who of the area and such act offends some filmi people so lets see how Universe acts. It will be a good experiment and still if it helps then I will be certainly getting realisation and will be exposed to TRUTH.
lets wait for that day:)
@Jwalant
Re: Dastan and Sawariya-
Meant to say that Dastan has stagy environment in the background of the films and events happen and shown in such a way as if drama is happening on stage. Though similar impact was in BR Chopra’s Humraj also but in Dastan its more. and Sawariya attempts to follow that trend.
and as mentioned in the post above that SRK’s foreign returned outlook in Devdas is borrowed from Dastan and even the first enetry scene where SRK enters the room of Paro in western dress, its exactly the same scene as shown in Dastan, where Judge Vishnu enters room of Sharmila Tagore when he is defined as Anil Deewan.
@Taz Khan,
ya May Dilip Saab live for years and give us atleast one more film:)
@Kavita (10)
I am bit confused if you and Kavita KK of PFC are same person or I get to interact with two different persons who are namesakes:-?
In the world of Rumours, Dilip Kumar+Kamini Kaushal was second such rumour and he was linked first with his first heroine (Jwar Bhata).
And as mentioned BR Chopra’s Gumrah (Ashok Kumar, Mala Sinha dn Sunil Dutt) was said as based on so called love story of Dilip Kumar Kamini Kaushal and her husband. Its said that in real life Kamini Kaushal had consulted Ismat Chugtai the famous urdu author (avoiding ess sufix) who had demoralized her spirit to be in this love affair as union was not possible unless Kamini Kaushal was ready to leave her husband.
anyway if you have seen Pankaj Parashar’s Jalwa, then there is a scene where Kamini Kaushal’s son Naseeruddin Shah teases her mother about her mad affection towards cine star Dilip Kumar and she goes deep in her imagination and says something in praise of Dilip Kumar including few words on his famous waving strands of hair lying always on his forehead.:)
@krish (11,12),
Ek shanshah ne bana ke haseen tajmahal sari duniya ke ashiqon ko nishani de hai.
Long live Dilip saab
@KCP (13,14)
Once Ashok Kumar almost forced Kishor Kumar to act in the film Jiddi he produced and later KK started getting other offers he actually started wanting to become an intense actor like Dilip Kumar and not a comedian actor. Dilip Kumar was his Idol.
—
ya I write for sake of those deewane type log who can enjoy without bothering much about rules and regulations of writing. While in mehfil of such deewane logs who cares for academic things. Its always about joy. Thats why people know and love Kabir after 400 years and many profound academic people are lost in history without leaving any clue of theirs. They lost their lives under academic seriousness. To kill any subject its best way to bring it in text books.;) Even student hate Kabir when read in text books in school.
Rk,your articles have a lot of detail,I amazed where you get all this info from.
Even your comments have a certain sense of fullness and wisdom.
I suppose whenever any one at PFC needs any info about Bollywood,you’ll have all the answers:)>-
@Arun,
Sir Thanks for your kind words. But if I May disclose and if its not like revealing a secret about PFC then if you think its some info then I am just a small fish and here we have blue whales swimming efficiently in the vast sea of knowledge-
Subrat, Wb, Vijay, DPack, OZ, Mainak and someother guys, whose names I am not able to re collect at present, are those who can be offered all kind of adjectives as far as knowledge about films and film personalities or anything related to cinema is concerned. and this knowledge pool is existing only in regular authors. some featured authors you know already, what they carry in their knowledge bank about cinema. These guys are like Jinn of Alladin. you present a question before them and answer is there before you blink your eyes.
You only can sigh on their speed and with a word, wow!:)
@RK…
I hope you dont equate positivity with submissivity.
That was my opinion and thats what i profess…..
I didnt liked him and so i said..I had to put headfone each time I had to see DK movie..such was his dialogue delievery aka mumbling…
His only positive contribution has been the unabashed promotion of Urdu. Dont understand me wrong but isnt it true.
You wrote many anecdotes lemme write one.. which appeared in India Today’s special edition in 2000 on people who shaped our destiny in a article on Lataji….It goes like this..Lataji was coming out from a recording room and Yousouf saw her…pointing to her he remarked to his colleague that isnt she so called great singer who cant speak Urdu…..WTF coming from a man who himself was never able to say a dialogue clearly..
@RK(21)
excellent write-up, loved it.
Gosh! how do you know all that? I want more stories!
I remember watching Devdas on tv when I was small, somehow I remember this scene where Dilip Kumar is lying drunk in a street and Chandramukhi comes, he looks up and says ‘arey, tum kahan se aa gayin meri mitr!’ wow! he is so natural.
and @(22) isn’t it ’saari duniya ko mohabbat ki nishani di hai…’?
waise that reminds me of the lines by Sahir ‘Ek shehanshah ne banawa ke haseen tajmahal, hum gareebon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazak’ (sorry for going out of context but i simply love these lines, Only Sahir can write this!)
anyway coming back to Dilip saab, i also remember that one of my dad’s friend who was a huge fan of Dilip Kumar, once while watching a scene from Mughal-e-azam, said “ye dekho, ye jo mudna hai na, wo, wo poori duniya ke acting schools mein students ko dikhaya jaata hoga!”:))
whats in a name? par haan hum hee hain.
role playing ki aadat nahin gayi
btw thanx so much for those tid-bits!
Kamini Kaushal [ lee jiye ek aur KK ]
consulted Ismat Chugtai?
I mean one an actress / another novelist…..
enlighten please.
Jalwa is of course an all time favourite so here is yet another viewing just for the scene you mention.
kkkkkkkk…….:d
RK saab… aap se yehi umeed thi. Upendra Trivedi-a veteran actor of Gujarati films said once ” it is impossible for any actor in india to not get affected by Dilip kumnar’s acting.”
and Shakti- that’s is called kaante ki takkar.
Thanks RK for detailed article on Dileep saab.. waiting for part2.
AK did offer KK to sing in chorus in Bombay Talkies films in early 40’s. He gave KK break in Shikaari & Shehnai in 1945/46 t. KK’s comedies came naturally to him. There was nobody like him those days. The serious roles of KK in films like Andolan (1951), Fareb, Adhikaar (1954), Miss Maala (1954), Naukri (1954 – one of his best), Bhai Bhai, New Delhi (1956), Musafir ( where we had Dilip saab too in a serious role ), Luko Churi, Bandi (1957), Apna Haath Jagannath (1960), Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964), Door Ka Raahi (1971), Suhaana Geet ( Unreleased ), Maa ( Unreleased ), Door Waadiyon Mein Kahin ( 1982) and many other comedy movies in which he did partly serious roles : there was never a jhalak of Dilip saab. KK never tried to imitate him. It was a peculiar acting of KK – something that came within.
Kishore actually adored and saw more of Foreign actors like Brando and Topol
KCP
RK(16) – ‘Dilip Saab and AB
DK revelutionized the art of acting in Indian cinema. He did that with his gifted tallent on languages through he communicated the roles he played and he all did that with a class. There is no match to DK he is an instituion of acting in a human sole. Not only the past and present but the future generations will also be inspired by him. I wish him a happy and healthy 85th birth day.
@Prashant (26),
Sorry for responding after 41-42 days.
(1) Its a pleasure to know that Dilip Saab contributed in promoting Urdu. Urdu is language of poetry and it should be promoted. Thanks to people like Gulzar saab also who promote it. any language should be promoted for whatever beauty it has.
(2) Your anecdote is 90% wrong. Please wait for autobiographies of either Dilip Saab or Lata ji, to read right version of the event you have mentioned.
Its useless to discuss personal dislikings as they are often biased. so lets try to be within the justified discussion (most of the time)
Thanks for your comment.@};-
@Neerja (27),
Thanks for your comment. Will surely write part 2. Many actors can afford to be more in to natural side as far as acting is concerned but very few can be natural as well as appealing and charming and they shine more than rest of the actors. We will not like to see camera on a rikshawalla who cant utter words about his own life but we love to see Balraj Sahni delivering dialogues in the cinematic avtar of a riksha puller. and Dilip saab goes few steps ahead and thats why he was actor who played Hero and not mere character roles!
Re-
@Kavita (28),
(1) First Ismat Chugtai-
She was married to Shahid Lateef and Shaheed was making a film Arzoo, where he had casted Dilip Saab and Kamini Kaushal. Ismat Chugtai had developed the story of the film on the basis of “Wuthering Heights”. Hence Kamini-Ismat angle came in to existence and Ismat was taken as somewhat revolutionary lady of her time.
(2) Perhaps naam mein kuch nahin rakha when first time nomination is done but after getting name, it should affect a person. Thats why even kids get irritation when someone destroys their names to tease them. am not sure but somewhere you must be feeling good about having words like Krsn (Krishna?) and Kasturi associated with your name. In all your honesty both the words should bring inner pleasure to you. so name has very significant role atleast in Indian way of living. Dont know about English ways where Shakespere wrote that line. But perhaps context should be different. Primarily a rose could be given name of Lotus or vice versa but after knowing this is this and that is that, its difficult to say naam mein kya rakha hai.
It should habe something with psyche that people have started keeping long and literary meanings based names for their kids and presently names like Kabir, Rehan etc are used where one cant guess which religion they belong to.
thanks for your comment.:)
@Shailesh (29),
Thanks for your comment. Part 2 may come at any right moment.
Surely Shakti has many memorable scenes happened between four major actors. That way its a remarkable film. Thanks for sharing anecdote about Upendra Trivedi.:)
@kcp (30),
This is true KK did not try to immitate Dilip saab in a way as he did immitate KL Saigal in his initial songs.
He wanted to be a serious actor like Dilip Kumar.
This line does not suggest he wanted to be clone of Dilip saab.
Thanks for your informative comment.
@Filmibhai (31),
As per hindu mythology god’s incarnation in Kalyug is called as Kalki and its guessed that he should take birth somewhere near Bareilly in UP. AB was born in Allahabad though he studied near bareilly (Sherwood Nainitaal). and Kalki should ride a horse.
and God’s incarnation should always be original and they never can take birth in the form of an actor because actors have to live lives of others.
But who knows in refined form of Gita (Kalyug version) Lord Krishna says – Kalakaron mein falana hun (in actors I am so and so):)
Thanks for your comment.
@NK (32),
Not agree on gifted part. As he improvised a lot and he did it continuously all through his active acting career. He is a man of hard work and follower of self study. so all knowledge of languages etc are sheer example of his dedication and hard work to learn new things. He is not even graduate in terms of education. He left graduation but he studied a lot through the books. he is certainly a minute observer and that should have helped him. and he always had zeal to excel in whatever he was doing.
and most important thing is he has always been a positive thinker like Dev saab. Many actors including Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar etc can give account how these old actors motivated these actors when they entered the industry.
This nature to motivate newcomers come from self confidence and its prerogative of good hearts.
This tendency is lost and todays super stars says ( though may be under mask of saying it in fun) from stages that why to promote new actors as they will take away their market.
:(
RK! wow! Brilliant, long long article, but really worth!
Next time pls do enlighten Dillip Saabs’ love life! Pls. Despite of the best in cinema I heard he got one tragic love story like Devdas!
@Sheen (40),
Thanks for your comment.
Talks are in air that Dilip Saab has been busy in dictating his autobiography and it can be publsihed anytime in this year, and he is going to mention things which others dont know, so perhaps you will be having some accounts of his so called love life also there in the book.
we others cant know about personal details and when we can have tons of other things to discuss about him then its better to leave personal things to person himself, afterall he needs something personal to write in his book or not ?
:-?
But surely will be writing more about his films in next part.:)
@RK
A Request: With all your knowledge ob Hindi movie industry legends, I would love to read something on O.P.Nayyar saab. Why did he never use Lataji for his songs? What happened between him and Ashaji, so bitter that she rarely sings his compositions in her concerts insipite of the fact that some of her most beautiful songs are his compositions.
Some stories and a tribute to the legend.
@ RK Thanx!:)Autobiography is better!
And Neeraja’s question I also wanna know an answer.
@Neerja (42), Sheen (43),
Tribute to Legendary composer Late O P Nayyar saab – will be a pleasure to do so some day.
Why he did not work with Lata ji, how we can know it. either these people or people active in those years and who were close to these people can say something about this factor.
We only can guess.
Lata ji was already a super star singer by the time Nayaar saab started giving music in films during early years of 50s. His major first break could be with Guru Dutt in films like Baaz, AAr Paar, Mr and Mrs 55, CID etc and being wife of Guru Dutt Geeta Bali was already there to sing songs for his early films.
When so many legendary music composers were active at same time then its not uncommon that they had teamed up with singers also for different reasons. When you know your job throughly then you can use same tool differently then others and singers are a tool for composers. Then producers, directors, and actors also might have their say in deciding who would sing for which composer and films.
Many artists, right from the begining in their career, tries to take different path to estbalish their own brand image and OP saab could be one such person, thats why his music is his trade mark. Even those who have listened very few of his songs can tell by the use of some particular instruments and by the style of his songs that music is given by OP Nayyar. So its possible that he wanted to establish his independent image that he did not take resort of big singer Lata Mangeshkar to create his music empire rather he helped Asha, relatively a new singer and still gave big hits.
Ultimately everybody is human and thus not devoid of human weaknesses and in 50s all were quite young and its also possible that due to some misunderstanding many did not work togather. and as I mentioned above when there is so much work to do and when not a single composer or singer can handle all the films and healthy competition is there because so many good composers and singers are around then they might not have bothered much about who worked with whom. All were highly talented and people got variety. thats important. why someone did not work with someone is not a thing of importance.
I am seriously not aware that Asha ji does not sing Nayaar saab’s songs in concerts. Have you attended any concert of Asha ji where people requested her to sing songs of OP Nayyar saab and she refused? She might have prefered to sing her other songs in concerts but if people request and she refuses only then we should assume that she does not sing OP saabs songs.
@RK
No I have never been to any of her concerts. That’s something I heard from friends and family in Mumbai.
But I never found her singing hid compositions on tv shows also. It used to be so disappointing.
You are right about the teaming up thing but I still find it a bit strange that he never ever used Lataji’s voice. If it was, as you say, to establish his independent image and hence not resort to big singers like Lata Mangeshkar, it was a brave thing to do.
Thanks for the detailed reply. Looking forward to your next post.
@Neeraja,
Compatibility is an important factor. It happens with so many big artists that they dont work together.
When OP got chance to compose music, Lata was a big singer and certainly he needed her more than she needed him at that time. It may also be possible that later he did not find her voice and singing style suitable for his kind of compositions. Like he worked with Mukesh much later for film Sambandh and this combination created an immortal song Chal akela Chal akela…
so can we draw conclusions that before this film he and Mukesh had some problems withe ach other?
Perhaps OP did not work with Talat Mahmood also who was one of the biggest and finest singer of 50s and often gave voice to Dilip Kumar.
We cant say anything with certainity as there is a difficulty in making a model out of nature of an artist. If we say he did not work with lata becasue he did not want to take resort of big singers then he worked initially mostly with Rafi, who was a big big singer of 50s but later he parted with him also and started working with Mahendra Kapoor instead who was relatively a new singer. There can be attitude problem between artists. But we music lovers have to enjoy the music these legends have created for us to listen. Rest everything is there for these artists to cover in their autobiographies.
next post is already there – agantuk
now is the time, any day, for next to next,
@RK
Yes you are right, I agree.
I saw your next post but I haven’t seen Agantuk so waiting for next
dilip saab I am a fan of yours. i have managed to get almost all your films. I have written to u many times but of no reply.sir my wish is to meet u once. sir u would see I will surely manage to Reach u.:((:x:-w BYE BYE
@Ajit,
May your wish to meet Dilip saab is fulfilled soon. All the best:).
“Knock knock knock and door shall be opened to you”
This is interesting to know that you have managed to get almost all of his films.
Lucky you:d
38 RK
Amitabh Bachchan rode horse in Sholay, Khudagawah, Toofaan (and maybe more) :d
AB is original .. he hasnt copied any actor .. he has his own style B)
Any day Amitabh towers above DK.
Dk in his entire like can never do aperformance like Guruji diid in Don,Trishul,Silsila,bemisal,aakhri Raasta, Agneepath,Main Azad Hoon,Black,Sarkar, Sarkar Raaj etc — never ending list.
0 to 1 = how much effort goes?
Guru ji himself would not like to believe in such a thing.
Apart from variety it is about depth.
It is about originating the things which made path easy for all the next generations of actors.
Dilip Kumar has inspired not only actors but also the movie goers.
Sattr
We are in an era which accepts mediocrity in the art of acting.Yusuf Khan has and always been the pillar of his craft.It is behemoth of a task to even attempt to quantifuy the man’s effect on cinema, worldwide. We are forever indebted for his body of work and the lasting legacy, all over the world.
DEAR
FIRST TIME IREALLY SAW YOUR FABOULOUS ARTICLES ABOUT DILIP KUMAR SAHIB. PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEARTIEST CONGRATS FOR PRAISE WORTHY PRESENTATION
ABOUT DILIP SAHIB- I AM TOO SMALL TO COMMENT HIM . HE UNDOUBTEDLY IS EXCELLENT , PERFECTIONISTS, SUPREME AND HAVING A CALIBRE OF AMAZING HIGHST DEGREE. HE IS MILLION YEARS AHEAD OF ANY YESTER YEARS AND CONTEMPERORY ACTOTS . I CAN AFFIRMLY SAY THAT EVEN ENGLISH LEGEND ACTOR
M/ BRANDO IS BEHIND IN ACTING AS FAR AS IMPRESSION , EXPRESSION, DELIVERY , TONE / PITCH OF VOICE , SILENT EYES COMMUNICATION , FADE DEFEATED (IN LOVED )SMILE IS CONCERNED. EVEN HE SPEAKS FLUENTLY IN HIGH PITCH VOLUME OF VOCE IS REALLY AMAZING TO WATCH,
SEE THE FILM DIL DEYA DARD LIYA , AADMI , SANGHRUSH.WHEN DELIVERS DIALOUGE LIKE COMPRESSED PERSON — REALLY IT IS WONDERFUL TO WATCH AND I AM SURE YOUR AND OUR EYES WILL MOIST TO SEE HIS NATURAL ACTING — TO SUPPORT MY ARGUMENTS — SEE FILM RAM & SHEYAM WHERE RAM NARRATES STORY TO HIS FAIMLY DOCTORS IN A SCENE .
ONLY ORIGINAL ACTOR DILIP CAN PERFORM.
CAN ANY ONE .
SEVERAL EXAMPLE I CAN CITE HALLMARKING HIS GREATNESS AND EXCELLENCE
AS AB SAYS RIGHT IF ANY BODY SAYS HE IS NOT INSPIRED WITH DILIP SAHIB IS LYING.
IF YIU NOT TO ANALYSE THE ACTING OF DILIP , ONE SHOULD HAVE SENSE OF ACTING, NEUTRAL, IMPARTIAL,
KNOWLEDGE OF QUALITY AND HAVING CAPABILITY OF ASSESSMENT.
I CAN WRITE VOLUMES ABOUT DILIP SAHIB .
MY BEST WISHES WITH DILIP SAHIB , MAY GOD GIVE HIM LONG LIVE TO REMAIN
CONVEY MY HEARTIEST WISH TO DILIP SAHIB .
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MOHAMMED MISBAH UDDIN KHAN (M.M KHAN)
ENGINEER PROCUREMENT
SBG
SAUDI ARABIA
MAIL – hasan.saquib@yahoo.com
dilip kumar is undoubtedly great …. but his acting is not a patch on Amithabh’s who is the most versatile and powerful actor ever in India. Re Dilip and Raaj Kumar, Raaj kumar easily knocked him out in Saudagar with his dialogue delivery
@Salim Saab,
what a thing. wow wow wah wah.
now if Javed Saab also appear to make equally meritorious statement with all the figures of speech then it will rhyme in best possible manner!
Salim Saab
pranam
Dilip Saab is a noble person. I have watched many of his films and have deeply apprectiated all. Dilip Saab is still carrying a rainbow of fine qualities within him. I should like to have his email address for some advice.
Please kindly do me a favour in acceding 5o my request.
Regards
Anwari Begum Rajabalee
@Anwari Begum,
Its doubtful that Dilip Saab might be using email kind of thing. Dilip Kumar, MP Rajya Sabha, Pali Hill, Mumbai India, will take your letter to right person. There is only one Dilip Kumar in Mumbai.
I guess AR Rahman’s original name which was given to him by his parents was also Dileep. But now he is ARR.
Please use Indian postal service instead to advise Dilip Saab.