Dilip Kumar (born 11 Dec., 1922) whose career spans almost six decades, stands out as a colossus in the field of Indian cinema. Undeniably the most imitated actor in Bollywood, he has adapted himself to the changing times and the new age innovations and technique, while maintaining his stamp of individuality.
Beginning with his childhood years in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), Dilip Kumar and his family moved to Deolali and then to Bombay. Dilip Kumar met with Devika Rani (the then reigning star) in the early 1940s, which was the turning point in his life, in that he bagged his first film assignment (Jwar Bhata, 1944). The rest is history.
Dilip Kumar’s oeuvre covers a wide genre of movies including social dramas, historical romances and light-hearted comedies. He has several prestigious awards to his credit including the Filmfare Best Actor Award (eight times, a record), the Padma Bhushan (1991) and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1995). He has also been decorated with Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1997).
