The late legendary actor, Dilip Kumar holds a special place in the hearts of both Indians and Pakistanis.
We all know the story of the Bollywood actor being born in Peshawar before the Partition, but did you know that growing up, Dilip Kumar was a fruit merchant while also starring in films?
In a revelation by the news agency PTI, an interesting trivia has surfaced, uncovering that Dilip Kumar’s career switch from a fruit merchant to an actor. A fact that was hidden from his family in Peshawar until his fourth film, Jugnu.
Back then, his birthname was Mohammad Yusuf Khan. He caught the attention of actress Devika Rani while still engaged in his previous profession. After adopting the name Dilip Kumar, he debuted in the 1944 film Jwar Bhata.
Three years later, Basheshwarnath Kapoor, Raj Kapoor’s grandfather, brought Jugnu to take notice of Dilip Kumar’s father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar Khan. Allegedly, faced with his disappointed father’s silence, Dilip Kumar sought support from his friend Raj Kapoor.
Raj’s father, Prithviraj Kapoor, played the mediator role and helped reconcile the strained relationship between Dilip Kumar and his father.
During the first two years, Dilip Kumar’s father avoided watching his son’s movies, and despite residing in the same home, they consciously avoided each other. But their relationship witnessed a positive transformation over time, attributed to the intervention of a close family friend.
Dilip Kumar’s father stopped talking to him because he wanted Yusuf to take up a government job. Then, Dilip sought help from Raj Kapoor. Prithviraj Kapoor spoke with Dilip Sahab’s father, highlighting his son’s commendable work.
He conveyed that supporting Yusuf in his chosen path could bring more fame and status than a government job. Prithviraj’s words influenced Sarwar Ali Khan, and he eventually forgave his son.
Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar shared a great bond apart from their professional ties in the film industry. Their families were well-acquainted, and the two actors had known each other for a long time. The familial bond grew stronger with Raj Kapoor’s grandfather, Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, and Dilip Kumar’s father, Lala Ghulam Sarwar Ali, sharing a great bond.
Basheshwarnath expressed about Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor’s phenomenal role in the film industry. Dilip Kumar outlived his friend Raj Kapoor, who died in 1988 at 63, by many decades.
