Dilip Kumar (born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021) was an iconic Indian actor, renowned for pioneering method acting in Hindi cinema. He was often called "Abhinay Samrat" (Emperor of Acting) and dominated the Indian film industry from the 1950s to the 1960s. Kumar holds the record for the most Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, with eight wins, a record later matched by Shah Rukh Khan. His box-office success was unparalleled, with over 80% of his films becoming hits.
Kumar's career spanned over five decades, with 57 films across various genres. He made his acting debut in *Jwar Bhata* (1944), and after a few unsuccessful films, his first major hit came with *Jugnu* (1947). He gained further success with films like *Andaz* (1949), *Aan* (1952), *Daag* (1952), *Insaniyat* (1955), *Azaad* (1955), *Naya Daur* (1957), *Madhumati* (1958), *Paigham* (1959), *Kohinoor* (1960), *Mughal-E-Azam* (1960), *Gunga Jumna* (1961), and *Ram Aur Shyam* (1967). Films like *Andaz*, *Aan*, and *Naya Daur* became the highest-grossing films of their time, and *Mughal-e-Azam* held the box-office record for 15 years.
The 1970s saw a decline in his career, with three consecutive commercial failures. After a brief hiatus, he returned with the successful *Kranti* (1981), followed by roles in *Vidhaata* (1982), *Shakti* (1982), *Karma* (1986), and *Saudagar* (1991). His final on-screen appearance was in *Qila* (1998), which was a commercial disappointment. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2000 to 2006.
Kumar’s personal life was often in the media spotlight. He had a long-term relationship with actress Madhubala, which ended after a court case in 1957. He married actress Saira Banu in 1966. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015. He was also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994. In 1998, Pakistan conferred on him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, their highest civilian award, making him the only Indian to receive this honor. His childhood home in Peshawar was declared a national heritage monument by Pakistan in 2014.
