10 Iconic Roles of Dilip Kumar That We Can Never Forget

A veritable legend with an exceptional charm, Dilip Kumar was an actor second to none. Born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, he became famous by his screen name Dilip Kumar and awed the audience with his screen presence. Also known by the title “Tragedy King”, Dilip Kumar was an actor who has given us timeless classics and introduced method acting in Bollywood. He has bagged the Filmfare award for best actor eight times which is the highest ever for any actor in Bollywood. The news of his demise on 7 July 2021 had devastated the cine-goers and admirers. Known as an institution and inspiration to innumerable people, Dilip Kumar acted in more than 60 movies. In this blog, we have chronicled the top 10  iconic roles of Dilip Kumar to glorify his unparalleled legacy.

Devdas(1955)

The original Devdas before Shah Rukh Khan, this film is an eternal love story and is among the iconic roles of Dilip Kumar. Helmed by Bimal Roy, released in 1955, it earned Kumar a Filmfare award for best actor and critical acclaim. The sensitivity with which he essayed the role of a doomed and devastated lover garnered him heaps of praises from cine-goers. Dilip Kumar had put his heart and soul into this role and it remains one of his iconic performances to date.

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Mughal-e-Azam(1960)

‘Taqdeerein badal jaati hai, zamana badal jaata hai, mulkon ki tarikh badal jaati hai, Shahenshah badal jaate hai … magar is badalti hui duniya mein mohabbat jis insaan ka daaman thaam leti hai … woh insaan nahi badalta.’

Bollywood’s prized possession, this film has given us the iconic Anarkali and Salim. Its grandeur and riveting plot make it a timeless classic by the tragedy king Dilip Kumar.  It focused on the forbidden love of Anarkali and Mughal prince Salim essayed by Dilip Kumar and eventual escape from the Mughal empire. For 15 years, this film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time and was the first black-and-white Bollywood film to be digitally colored.

Ram Aur Shyam(1967)

Dilip Kumar put life into a double role with his acting prowess. He won another Filmfare award for his stellar acting as Ram and Shyam. The film was a blockbuster and was another feather to his cap. The film created a new genre in Hindi cinema as many more double-role films were helmed, focusing on the hilarious events that occur when the siblings switch places.

Daag(1952)

Daag will be remembered as the film that earned Dilip Kumar the first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance as Shankar. In the film, his character is the sole breadwinner who resorts to alcoholism under the pressure of meeting the financial needs of his family. He temporarily reforms himself, but heartbreak and the demise of his mother drive him back to alcoholism. In the end, he mends his ways and thus, redeems himself.

Naya Daur (1957)

“Jiske dil mein daga aa jati hai na, uske dil mein daya kabhi nahi aati.”

The next movie among the iconic roles of Dilip Kumar is Naya Daur. In this cult classic, Dilip Kumar essayed the role of an underdog who was propelled by the motive to bring about a positive change in the plight of tongawallas in his village. The film also showed how he stood up against oppression and injustice which the tongawallas face in his village. The film was a critical and commercial success and earned him his third Filmfare award in the best actor category.

Madhumati (1958)

This iconic film was helmed by the stellar filmmaker Bimal Roy. The film was centered around the theme of reincarnation and was backed by a really strong and substantial plot. The film starred Pran along with Dilip Kumar and their performances did receive rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.

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Ganga Jamuna(1967)

For this film, Dilip Kumar donned the hat of a producer as well as an actor. This was the only film he produced in his career. The story of the film was centered around two siblings who were poles apart. One of them became a police officer and the other became a dacoit. The sibling rivalry was the highlight of the gripping action drama. The film was declared a hit.

Andaaz(1949)

Andaaz was an epic love triangle between the three legends namely, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Nargis Dutt. It was the only film in which Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar worked together. The film was the second highest-grossing film in 1949 and is among the iconic roles of Dilip Kumar. The performance of all the three leads received rave reviews.

Shakti(1982)

The blockbuster film was helmed by the veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. It was the first and only film that featured Big B and Dilip Kumar in one frame. The film was a huge hit upon its release and Kumar’s splendid performance earned him another Filmfare award in the best actor category.

Kranti (1981)

Kranti was helmed by the esteemed filmmaker Manoj Kumar and ranks among the iconic roles of Dilip Kumar. It had an ensemble star cast, Dilip Kumar, Hema Malini, Shashi Kapoor, Prem Chopra, etc. It marked the return of the tragedy king on the silver screen after a five-year hiatus. Kranti was the most expensive yet the highest-grossing film of its time.

You all must have felt nostalgic after reading this blog. This was all about the 10 iconic roles of Dilip Kumar. Do let us know your favourite film of the tragedy king in the comments section below. Stay tuned to Leverage Edu for blogs like these and for all the abroad education updates.