Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar passed away in the early hours of Wednesday. The 98-year-old had been suffering from various ailments and was undergoing treatment at a hospital. Taking to Twitter, Faisal Farooqui, said to be Dilip Kumar's friend who handles the actor's Twitter account said, "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 (sic)." He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am, Dr Jalil Parkar, who had been treating Kumar, told PTI.
With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, few minutes ago.
— Dilip Kumar (@TheDilipKumar) July 7, 2021
We are from God and to Him we return. - Faisal Farooqui
Just a day earlier, the actor's wife Saira Banu Khan issued a statement late on Monday, saying that his health was improving. The statement issued on Dilip Kumar's Twitter account had said, "We are grateful for god's infinite mercy on Sahib that his health is improving. We are still in hospital and request your prayers and duas so that god willing, he is healthy and discharged soon." Dilip Kumar was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hinduja Hospital, Khar, on June 29, after reportedly complaining of breathlessness.
A statement issued on his behalf on Twitter the following day said, "Dilip Saab has been admitted to Hinduja Hospital, Khar to address medical issues related to illness which are frequently expected in a 98 year old. Your love and prayers are truly appreciated by Saab (sic)."
Born in 1922 as Mohammed Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar, known to generations of film-goers as tragedy king', had been in and out of hospitals in the last one month and the family was hoping he would get better. The Hindi cinema veteran, the last of the golden troika with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, was admitted to hospital last month following episodes of breathlessness. He was then diagnosed with bilateral pleural effusion, a build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs, and underwent a successful pleural aspiration procedure. He was discharged after five days only to be admitted to the hospital again.
Kumar, also often known as the Nehruvian hero, did his first film Jwar Bhata in 1944 and his last Qila in 1998, 54 years later. The five-decade career included Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Naya Daur, and Ram Aur Shyam, and later, as he graduated to character roles, Shakti and Karma .