'Blessed with unparalleled brilliance.' Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, one of the most beloved figures in Indian cinema, died on Wednesday at the age of 98, his doctor confirmed.
Kumar was known to several generations of movie fans for starring in Bollywood cult classics, including the films"Devdas,""Naya Daur,""Ganga Jamuna," and more. He often took on tragic roles, earning himself the nickname"Tragedy King."
A tweet from Kumar's account, signed by family friend Faisal Farooqui, confirmed his death on Wednesday."With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago," said the tweet.People from all walks of life, including politicians, actors and athletes, shared their condolences on social media after news broke of his death.
"Whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written, it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar'," he wrote.Kumar was born Muhammad Yusuf Khan in 1922, in Peshawar -- in what is now part of Pakistan. His father was a fruit merchant, and the family moved to Mumbai, then known as Bombay, during Kumar's childhood in the 1930s. A decade later, he moved to Pune to launch a canteen business and supply fruits.