New Delhi: Veteran actor Dilip Kumar passed away aged 98 on Wednesday (July 7, 2021) morning. The demise of the Bollywood actor was confirmed by Dr Jalil Parkar, the pulmonologist who was treating Dilip Kumar at Mumbai’s PD Hinduja Hospital.
Known as the ‘Tragedy King’ of Bollywood, Kumar reportedly breathed his last at 7:30 AM on Wednesday, following which several politicians and film fraternity condoled the death of the ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ actor.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed that Dilip Kumar will 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,” PM Modi tweeted.
Dilip Kumar Ji will 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 7, 2021
Amitabh Bachchan said that ‘an institution has gone’
“Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be ‘before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar’,” Bachchan expressed.
T 3958 – 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 for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss ..
Deeply saddened ..— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 7, 2021
Earlier on Monday, Dilip Kumar’s wife and actress Saira Banu Khan had issued a statement and had said that ‘Dilip Sahib’s health is improving’.
“We are still in hospital and request your prayers and duas so that Insha`Allah he is healthy and discharged soon,” Saira Banu had said.
We are grateful for God’s infinite mercy on Dilip Sahib that his health is improving. We are still in hospital and request your prayers and duas so that Insha’Allah he is healthy and discharged soon. Saira Banu Khan
— Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 5, 2021
Dilip Kumar’s career spanned over six decades and was known for his iconic roles in movies like ‘Devdas ‘(1955), ‘Naya Daur’ (1957), ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960), ‘Ganga Jamuna’ (1961), ‘Kranti’ (1981), and ‘Karma’ (1986).