Dilip Kumar, an Actor and Gentleman Par Excellence
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
10 December
2022
The
memories of my first meeting with Dilip Kumar are still verdant in my memory. I
met him at Turf Club, Poona, way back in 2007. My journalist friend Naeem
Akhtar, who worked with a Pakistani Urdu daily, Azkaar (plural of Zikra)
wanted to interview the thespian. He had already fixed an appointment. Yusuf Sahab
used to visit Turf Club, Poona, and was particularly associated with Poona and
Deolali (Nasik). We met him at 5 pm. Contrary to today's actors and their
supercilious attitude and a retinue of assistants, secretary and a host of
fawning admirers, Yusuf Sahab himself attended to my friend's call when he gave
him a tinkle. That was in Bombay. He told him that he'd be in Poona where he,
my friend, could meet and interview him. We both had a sense of trepidation
before meeting him. After all, we were meeting a living legend who in addition
to being a great actor, was also an erudite conversationalist. But lo and
behold, he turned out to be so down to earth and humble, a sign of real
greatness. “Adaab, Yusuf Sahab," we said in unison. “Adaab, Barkhurdar”,
he replied politely.
Dilip
Kumar
------
Readers may
be aware that Dilip Kumar never spoke loudly. He once told an interviewer, “Humne
Taa-Hayaat Kabhi Kisi Se Oonchi Aawaaz Mein Baat Nahin Kee. Oonchi Aawaaz Mein
Baat Karna Humein Shaaistagi Ke Khilaaf Lagta Hai '' (Never in life have I
spoken aloud. To me, speaking loudly is against the very tenets of etiquette).
To put us in ease, he continued, "Shahar-e-Poona (he never said the
most awful-sounding Pune, Mumbai and Chennai and always used the old names of
these metros) Se Hamari Beshumaar Yaadein Vaabista Hain. Na Jaane Iss Shahar
Ki Hawa Main Aisi Kya Baat Hai Ke Jo Koi Yahan Aata Hai, Iski Muhabbat Mein
Aseer Ho Jaata Hai” (I've fond memories of Poona. There's something so
special about this city that whoever visits Poona, gets enamoured of it). He
spoke at length about his life, career, his friends and co-actors and regaled
us with his anecdotes.
Extremely
well read, Dilip Kumar would quote his friend and favourite Urdu poet Faiz
Ahmad Faiz's Urdu poetry. He'd also quote Pablo Neruda and Robert Frost. He was
devoid of all pretensions and was humility personified. When asked, how did he
feel having achieved so much in life, Dilip Sahab quoted Raghupati Sahay
'Firaq' Gorakhpuri's famous couplet, " Bulandiyaan Sar Keen,
Safar-E-Taveel Tay Kiya / Palat Ke Dekhta Hoon, Kya Khoya, Kya Paaya" (Reached
dizzying heights, travelled a long way / Now when I look back, I ruminate over
what I achieved and lost).
There was
no stipulated time given to us. It was a long interview followed by dinner.
When we finished the interview, we thanked him for sparing time for us. He
said, “Shukriya Toh Humein Ada Karna Chahiye, Baad-E-Muddat Aap Donon Se
Adabi Urdu Mein Baat Karne Ka Mauqa Mila” (I should thank you as I got an
opportunity after a long time to converse with you in chaste Urdu).
That was
his greatness. No airs, no attitude. The memories of that meeting are forever
etched in the crevices of my heart and mind.
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/dilip-actor-gentleman-excellence/d/128601
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