Even after three years of his demise, Dilip Kumar remains a legendary Indian actor, the “Tragedy King” who pioneered method acting in Hindi cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he starred in close to 60 films, won eight Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, inspired a generation of stars to emulate him and received prestigious honors, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. He was also conferred Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Imtiaz. Known for his versatility and profound performances, he remains an enduring icon of cinema, celebrated for his unparalleled contribution to the art. This article lists five of his truly memorable performances:
Andaz (1949)
A landmark romantic drama directed by Mehboob Khan, Andaz featured Dilip Kumar, Nargis, and Raj Kapoor in a love triangle, with music by Naushad and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. (This was the only film to feature Kumar and Kapoor together). It became the highest-grossing Indian film of its time. Critics praised Dilip Kumar’s intense and nuanced performance, which played a significant role in attracting audiences to a narrative that was unconventional for its era. This was also an early milestone in Dilip Kumar’s “tragedy king” journey.
Devdas (1955)
This Bimal Roy film is a period drama based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel. The film starred Dilip Kumar in the titular role, with Suchitra Sen making her Bollywood debut as Paro and Vyjayanthimala in a breakthrough dramatic role as Chandramukhi. Notable for Kamal Bose’s evocative cinematography, the film captured the protagonist’s emotional turmoil.
Though a moderate box-office success initially, Devdas gained universal acclaim and achieved iconic status over the years, solidifying Kumar’s portrayal as a career highlight. It ranks among Bollywood’s greatest films, earning accolades like Forbes’ “25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema” for Kumar’s intense performance, which brought him a Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Gunga Jumna (1961)
A crime drama produced by Dilip Kumar and directed by Nitin Bose (although Dilip Kumar’s ghost direction of this film have passed into film lore), this film featured Kumar, Vyjayanthimala (in an award-winning performance), and his brother Nasir Khan. Set in rural Awadh, the film tells the story of two brothers—one a dacoit and the other a police officer—caught in sibling rivalry. Notable for its Technicolor production, use of the Awadhi dialect, and its rural setting, the film became a massive box office hit, with over 84 million tickets sold worldwide. It received critical acclaim for its story, direction, and performances, particularly Dilip Kumar’s portrayal of Ganga, regarded as one of his finest.
Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
Directed by Tapi Chanakya, this film featured Dilip Kumar in a celebrated double role as twin brothers with contrasting personalities. A remake of the Telugu film Ramudu Bheemudu (1964), the movie also starred Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, Nirupa Roy, and Pran. The film’s music, composed by Naushad with lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni, was a highlight. It was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 1967 and achieved enduring popularity for Dilip Kumar’s rapier-sharp timing. At the 15th Filmfare Awards, it won Best Actor for Dilip Kumar, with nominations for Waheeda Rehman and Mumtaz.
Shakti (1982)
Directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the iconic Salim–Javed duo, this crime drama brought two legendary actors, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, together on screen for the first and only time, alongside Rakhee Gulzar, Smita Patil, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Amrish Puri. The film explored a father-son conflict, with Kumar portraying a principled police officer and Bachchan as his estranged son entangled in crime. Acclaimed as one of the best films of its time, Shakti won four Filmfare Awards, including Best Film and Best Actor for Kumar (his eighth and final win).
