This refers to the article “ Dilip Kumar: Indian cinema’s tragic hero” (Dec. 21) by Farouk Luqman. I have been reading Luqman’s articles with great interest for a long time. His articles are always informative and give lot of knowledge to his readers. But, I think, the article he penned down on Dilip Kumar does not reflect any substance and hard work. What he has written anybody can find very easily on Internet. There are no new things he has added in his article. Also, he did not give proper status to the personality like Dilip Kumar.
As a matter of fact, Dilip Kumar is the epitome of Indian film Industry, and nobody can match his acting caliber. Owing to this reason, Amitabh Bachchan has said on many occasions that Dilip Kumar is the source of inspiration to me and to the whole Bollywood film actors.
Rajendar Kumar, the Indian golden jubilee actor, copied Dilip Kumar and earned a lot of money and fame. Amitabh Bachchan, copied Dilip Kumar in his film Deewar in his death scene. I think Amitab Bachchan has rightly said that if any actor in India says that he is not influenced by Dilip Kumar’s acting, then he is lying. Dilip Kumar dialogue delivery was immaculate, and he always exuded natural acting. Critics of Indian film say that not a single actor in India can match the acting of seriousness what Dilip Kumar has put up in his films.
Dilip Kumar’s film Ganga Jumna was his own production and he acted in that film fabulously and he should have been awarded film fare award for that film, but, unfortunately, award went to Raj Kapoor for his film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahti Hai. Dilip Kumar’s importance of acting in his film Ganga Jumna can be understood in this way that Amitabh Bachchan watched this film on eleven times. There is no doubt that Dilip Kumar is the greatest actor of Bollywood India has ever produced. — Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar
