Dilip Kumar
Hindi cinema legend known as the “Tragedy King”
- Lived
- 98 yrs
- 1922 – 2021
- Works listed
- 7
- Film
- Honours
- 5
- Most recent 2015
- Profile views
- 2
- 0 followers
Dilip Kumar was one of the greatest actors of Hindi cinema, admired for his restrained, naturalistic style. He won the first Filmfare Award for Best Actor and eight in all, and starred in classics such as Devdas, Naya Daur and Mughal-e-Azam. He died in 2021.
Biography
From Peshawar to Bombay Talkies
Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan in Peshawar to a fruit merchant’s family, he moved to Bombay as a boy. After running a canteen in Pune, he was hired by Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies, who gave him the screen name Dilip Kumar. His first film was Jwar Bhata (1944).
The Tragedy King
In the late 1940s and 1950s he became known for intense, brooding roles in films such as Andaz (1949), Daag (1952) — which won him the first ever Filmfare Award for Best Actor — and Bimal Roy’s Devdas (1955). His method-like immersion in tragic parts took such a toll that a psychiatrist reportedly advised him to try lighter roles.
Classics
He showed his range in the comedy Kohinoor (1960), the rural drama Naya Daur (1957) and Ram Aur Shyam (1967), in which he played twins. As Prince Salim in K. Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and in Gunga Jumna (1961), which he also produced, he created some of Hindi cinema’s most famous performances. Later he played powerful elders in Shakti (1982), Karma (1986) and Saudagar (1991).
Honours and legacy
Dilip Kumar won eight Filmfare Best Actor awards, received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994, the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015, and was given Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 1998. He served in the Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006. He married actress Saira Banu in 1966 and died in Mumbai on 7 July 2021, aged 98.
Timeline
-
1922
Born in Peshawar, British India (now Pakistan)
-
1944
Debut in Jwar Bhata
-
1949
Andaz
-
1954
First Filmfare Award for Best Actor
For Daag.
-
1955
Devdas
-
1957
Naya Daur
-
1960
Mughal-e-Azam
-
1961
Gunga Jumna
-
1982
Shakti
-
1994
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
-
2015
Padma Vibhushan
-
2021
Dies in Mumbai
-
2021
Died, aged 98
Notable works
-
1949
Andaz Film
-
1952
Daag Film
-
1955
Devdas Film
-
1957
Naya Daur Film
-
1960
Mughal-e-Azam Film
-
1961
Gunga Jumna Film
-
1982
Shakti Film
Awards and honours
-
Filmfare Award for Best Actor
1954 · Daag — the first Best Actor award.
-
Padma Bhushan
1991
-
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
1994
-
Nishan-e-Imtiaz
1998
-
Padma Vibhushan
2015
Did you know?
-
1
He won the very first Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
-
2
His ancestral home in Peshawar has been declared a heritage building in Pakistan.
-
3
Satyajit Ray called him the “ultimate method actor”.
Connections
Related people
-
Madhubala
Film & TV · Hindi film actress remembered as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam
Co-star in Mughal-e-Azam
-
Raj Kapoor
Film & TV · Actor, director and producer known as the “Showman” of Hindi cinema
Contemporary; part of Hindi cinema’s great trio
-
Dev Anand
Film & TV · Hindi film star and producer of Navketan Films
Contemporary; part of Hindi cinema’s great trio
-
Amitabh Bachchan
Film & TV · Actor, film producer and host of Kaun Banega Crorepati
Co-star in Shakti
Frequently asked
Who is Dilip Kumar?
Dilip Kumar was one of the greatest actors of Hindi cinema, admired for his restrained, naturalistic style. He won the first Filmfare Award for Best Actor and eight in all, and starred in classics such as Devdas, Naya Daur and Mughal-e-Azam. He died in 2021.
When did Dilip Kumar die?
Dilip Kumar died on 7 July 2021 at the age of 98.
Where is Dilip Kumar from?
Dilip Kumar was born in Peshawar, British India (now Pakistan).
What is Dilip Kumar known for?
Dilip Kumar is best known for Andaz, Devdas, Naya Daur, Mughal-e-Azam, Gunga Jumna, Shakti.
What awards has Dilip Kumar received?
Notable honours include Filmfare Award for Best Actor (1954), Padma Bhushan (1991), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1994), Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1998).
Who is Dilip Kumar married to?
Spouse: Saira Banu (m. 1966).
References
- Dilip Kumar — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Dilip Kumar — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Dilip Kumar — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Dilip Kumar — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Dilip Kumar (Q377789) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Dilip Kumar”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
Featured in
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Dilip Kumar.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/dilip-kumar
Discussion 0
Sign in or create an account to join the discussion.
No comments yet — be the first.
More in Film & TV
Film & TV
Dev Anand
Hindi film star and producer of Navketan Films
1923 – 2011
Film & TV
Nargis
Hindi film actress best known for Mother India
1929 – 1981
Film & TV
Madhubala
Hindi film actress remembered as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam
1933 – 1969
Film & TV
Sridevi
Pan-Indian film star often called Indian cinema’s first female superstar
1963 – 2018
Film & TV
Raj Kapoor
Actor, director and producer known as the “Showman” of Hindi cinema
1924 – 1988
Film & TV
Akshay Kumar
Hindi film star known for action, comedy and social-message films
Born 1967