Unmatched innings

With his fourth biography to be published soon, actor Dilip Kumar looks back at his seven decades in Bollywood.

Uttam Kumar was watching a trial show of Sagina Mahato in 16mm print at NT1 Studio, Kolkata in July, 1972.  Later he told director Tapan Sinha, “Tapan da, thank God you did not cast me as Sagina. It would have been a blunder as I could not have matched Yusufda who has brought Sagina alive on screen.”

This is one of the stories in thespian Dilip Kumar's fourth biography, written by his wife Saira Banu.  This comprehensive biography of one of India's greatest actors has initiated a lot of curiosity since it was announced five years ago.

Films like Andaz, Jogan, Daag, Foot Path, Devdas  and Ganga Jumna stand testimony to his versatility.  Even today viewers remember his ro Nina ro in Andaz, as he shows Nargis the photo of her late father and helps her get over the shock of his death.