Legendary actor Dilip Kumar dies at 98, Bollywood says it is end of an era

By Rajesh Ahuja

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar,  passed away this morning at the P D Hinduja hospital in Mumbai, after a long illness.

The news of Dilip Kumar's death was confirmed by close family friend Faisal Farooqui on the actor 's official Twitter handle.

'With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him we return,'. - Faisal Farooqui said.

Dilip Kumar was admitted to hospital last Wednesday after complaining of breathlessness. It  was the second time he had been hospitalised in the same month.

“He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am, Pulmonologist Jalil Parker at Hinduja hospital said .

The tragic news comes two days  after Dilip Kumar's wife Saira Banu had  said that he legendary actor was recovering and might return home soon.

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar dies after a prolonged illness 

As soon as the news of Dilip Kumar’s death poured in,  celebrities from the world of entertainment expressed their condolences.

The whos who of the film industry, including filmmakers Subhash Ghai, Hansal Mehta and Viveik Agnihotri, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee, Sunil Shetty,  Sunny Deol, Kabir Bedi, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devon, Nimrat Kaur, Sharad Kulkarni, Hansika Motwani paid condolence to the legendary actor, describing his death as the end of an era.

Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai , who worked with Dilip Kumar in Saudagar and Vidhaata, described it as the saddest day of his life.

'Saddest day of my life. Dilip saheb Yusuf bhai gone My personal loss of my most precious idol. No words RIP SAHEB ,'Ghai said.

Condoling the death of Dilip Kumar,  superstar Amitabh Bachchan said, 'An institution has gone .. whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written , it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar' .. My duas for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss ..  Deeply saddened ..

An epic era has drawn curtains... Never to happen again..'

Getting emotional on hearing the news of Dilip Kumar's death,  Veteran actor Dharmendra said, 'People would go for pilgrimages, but I would go and see Dilip Saab’s house before I could become an actor”: '

'Today marks the end of an era, as we lost the brightest star of Indian Cinema. You will always live in our hearts Dilip Sahab. Rest in Peace!,'Suneil shetty said.

Expressing his condolences on Dilip Kumar 's death, superstar Akshay Kumar said, 'To the world many others may be heroes. To us actors, he was The Hero. #DilipKumar Sir has taken an entire era of Indian cinema away with him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Om Shanti .'

'The passing of legendary Dilip Kumar truly marks the end of an era. He was the last to leave of Bollywood’s triumvirate of iconic superstars: Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand #DilipKumar, all of whom I had the honour of knowing. Rest in peace, Dilip Saab. Your films have immortalised you,'Actor Kabir bedi said.

Actor Ajay Devgn also expressed his condolences on Dilip Kumar's death.

'Shared many moments with the legend...some very personal, some on stage. Yet, nothing really prepared me for his passing away. An institution, a timeless actor. Heartbroken. Deepest condolences to Sair,'Ajay Devgn said.

Expressing his condolences,  actor Sunny Deol said,'End Of An Era! #DilipKumar Sahab! You will always be missed  .'

'The emperor of acting. Artists never die. They just change roles. Alvida #DilipKumar sahab.,'filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri said.

Bollywood celebrities express condolence on death of Dilip Kumar,  describe it as end of an era

Dilip Kumar had been earlier admitted to hospital on June 6 after complaining of breathlessness. The legendary actor had not been keeping well for the last few years.

Born Mohammed Yusuf Khan  on December 11, 1922 at Peshawar in Pakistan, Dilip Kumar had a career of over five decades in Bollywood,  from the 1940s to the 90s.

Dolip Kumar,  who debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata (1944), produced by Bombay Talkies, worked in more than 65 films in a career spanning over five decades.

Notable among the films done by Dilip Kumar over the years are Andaz (1949),  Aan (1952), Daag (1952),  Devdas (1955),  Azaad (1955),  Mughal-e-Azam (1960),  Gunga Jamuna (1961), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Vidhaata, Shakti, Mashaal, Karma and Saudagar.

He is credited with having won the maximum number of Filmfare Awards for Best Actor.