Cinema legend Dilip Kumar dies at 98, tributes pour in

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who embodied the best of India through his films and seven decades in public life, died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday after prolonged illness. He was 98.

The actor, known to generations of film-goers as 'tragedy king' for his portrayal of the brooding, intense romantic in classics such as "Mughal-e-Azam" and "Devdas", is survived by his wife Saira Banu.

The last rites will be held at 5 pm at the Juhu Qabrastan at Santacruz Mumbai, a post on his Twitter handle said.

Kumar, an enduring film legend through the decades, had been admitted to the Hinduja Hospital, a non-COVID-19 facility in Khar, since last Tuesday.

"He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am," Dr Jalil Parkar, who had been treating Kumar, told PTI.

''With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return,'' family friend Faisal Farooqui posted from the actor's Twitter handle at 8.01 am.

Kumar's body was taken to his Pali Hill residence around 9.30 am where friends, colleagues and fans, including Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Vidya Balan and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur paid their respects. ''I am very sad today, I can't say anything. I've lost my brother,'' an emotional Dharmendra told reporters outside Kumar's residence.

The Hindi cinema veteran, the last of the golden troika with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand and one of India's most venerated stars, was admitted to hospital last month following episodes of breathlessness.

The actor had been battling ill health for the last few years, including advanced stage prostate cancer and lung disease, and had been in and out of hospital. A mini ICU had also been set up at his home and a team of doctors was treating him, a hospital source told PTI.

Kumar, born Yousuf Khan in Peshawar on December 11, 1922, underwent a successful aspiration procedure to treat the excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs in hospital, doctors said. He was discharged after five days only to be admitted to the hospital again.

Condolence messages for the much-loved star, whose death truly epitomised the end of an era, poured in from all quarters with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining political leaders, the film fraternity and others to express their grief.

"Dilip Kumar summarised in himself a history of emerging India. The thespian's charm transcended all boundaries, and he was loved across the subcontinent…Dilip Saab will live forever in the heart of India," the president said.

The prime minister said Kumar would be remembered as a cinematic legend.

"He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world. Condolences to his family, friends and innumerable admirers. RIP,'' Modi said on Twitter.

Amitabh Bachchan, who co-starred with him in "Shakti", said an institution has gone. ''… whenever the history of Indian cinema will be written, it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar and after Dilip Kumar. My duas (prayer) for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss... Deeply saddened.'' Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar said the screen icon had been ailing for a while.

''Yusuf Bhai was ill for the last many years, could not recognise anyone. At such a time Saira Bhabhi left everything and served him day and night. There was no other life for him. I bow to such a woman and pray that Yusuf Bhai's soul rests in peace,'' she tweeted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Kumar's extraordinary contribution to Indian cinema will be remembered for generations to come.

Kumar, often known as the Nehruvian hero, did his first film "Jwar Bhata" in 1944 and his last "Qila" in 1998, 54 years later. The five-decade career included ''Mughal-e-Azam'', ''Devdas'', ''Naya Daur'', and ''Ram Aur Shyam'', and later, as he graduated to character roles, "Kranti" and '"Karma". The first of the Khans, as he was sometimes referred to, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha for one term, awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan and also served as sheriff of Mumbai. He was also a polyglot, fluent in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Bengali and English.

Actor Shabana Azmi, wrote, ''Adieu Dilip Saab. Unknown to you I have been your Eklavya. Thank you for the movies.Thank you for the language. Thank you for the dignity. Thank you for being socially responsible. Thank you.'' Among the many who paid their tributes to the actor, an inspiration for generations of actors to follow, was Subhash Ghai, who worked with him in ''Karma'' (1986) and ''Saudagar'' (1991).

''Dilip saheb Yusuf bhai gone. My personal loss of my most precious idol. No words,'' Ghai tweeted.

''To the world many others may be heroes. To us actors, he was The Hero. #DilipKumar Sir has taken an entire era of Indian cinema away with him.My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Om Shanti,'' actor Akshay Kumar said. Sharing a picture with Kumar, actor Ajay Devgn wrote that he was devastated.

''Shared many moments with the legend...some very personal, some on stage. Yet, nothing really prepared me for his passing away. An institution, a timeless actor. Heartbroken. Deepest condolences to Sairaji,'' Devgn wrote.

Manoj Bajpayee tweeted that Dilip Kumar will always remain irreplaceable.

''No One like you! Have a great journey from here on master... Rest in peace,'' the ''Family Man'' actor said.