Daily Times

Dilip Kumar, the Yousaf Khan, of Peshawar, but the ruler of millions of hearts across South Asia, has walked away with angels to his Maker. But the superstar of the Indian cinema is such a star,
who will never fall and will keep on shining in the times to come.

The way the death of thespian, actor, legend, Dilip Kumar, is being mourned in India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries, it sheds light on the fact that culture is a more powerful binding force than any other factor. Dilip Kumar’s death brought India and Pakistan on the same page and very truly the power of culture can soften borders and stuffiness arising from government-to-government businesses.

Dilip Kumar was one such powerful actor, or rightly called actors’ actor, who brought memorable moments of life among the moviegoers and culture lovers. That is a Shakespearean tragedy that the respected actor, who was often hailed (rightly or wrongly) as a tragic hero for his perfect acting of tragedy scenes in Bollywood films, ruled millions of hearts and still he was often touted as the agent of Pakistan in his own country.

In 1998, when the Pakistani government conferred the highest Hilal-e-Imtiaz, some Indian Hindu nationalists dubbed him a Pakistani living in India. Of course, he was born in Peshawar but he lived and made his career as an actor in India. Politics, sometimes, muddies the pure land of culture.

Dilip Kumar remained out of public view in his last 10 years because of his fragile health. Most of the time, he was in the news for his ailment and treatment. In his six-decade long career, he produced several super-hit flicks.

Though many of the youth of today might not be aware of his prime days, his timeless acting will keep him relevant to the cultural connections in the days to come. He will be celebrated in the times to come as well.

On his death, Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Indian counterpart were on the same page and both showered condolences, and heartfelt messages for the actor “blessed with unparalleled brilliance”. Both leaders grew up in the times of Dilip Kumar.