My, today’s weekend blog is on the greatest actor ever to grace Bollywood. He was very selective about the roles, which he enacted on the silver screen. In his career spanning more than 5 decades, he acted only in just 60 films, and in his hay days, cine-goers would wait for his film to be released. Friends, I am talking about actor par excellence DILIP KUMAR. Today I am not writing about his life and times in Bollywood. So much have already written on this topic, and most of us have read about the same. I am going to write about his greatest roles which he enacted in the films. He started his career in the 1944 film Jwar Bhata.
Actually, in whichever film he acted, his acting was great, because he used to get so much involved in the roles and he used to just live the role. Here is the list of his films, according to me in which he acted the best. Please note that I have not ranked his performances, and the list is in random order.
1 Shaheed (1948)- Directed by Ramesh Sehgal, music by Khan Mastana. His heroine in this film was Kamini Kaushal. The song “ Watan Ki Raah Mein Watak Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho”, is among the best patriotic songs of Bollywood,
2 Mela (1948)- It was a blockbuster film, directed by SU Sunny and music by Naushad. His co-star was Nargis, The music of this film became very popular and its songs are still played on the FM channels,
3 Andaz (1949)- Directed by Mehboob Khan. It was the first and only time Raj Kapoor acted with Dilip Kumar, heroine was Nargis. It was the first time Dilip Kumar played a character with grey shade. Music was by Naushad, and the special thing was Mukesh gave playback to Dilip Kumar and Mohd Rafi sang Raj Kapoor’s song. it was a super duper hit.
4 Babul (1950)- Directed by SU Sunny and music by Naushad, his co star in the film was Nargis. The songs are this film are still popular, and the song “ Chod Babul Ka Ghar, Mohe Pi Ke Nagar Aas Jana Pada” is considered as the best bidai song in Hindi films.
5 Deedar (1951)- This was the first time Dilip Kumar & Ashok Kumar acted in a film, heroine was Nargis. Dilip acted as a blind person in the film. Music by Naushad became very popular.
6 Daag (1952)- Directed by Ameya Chakravorty. His heroine was Nimmi. Music by Shankar Jaikishan. The song “ Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal, Gham Ki Duniya Se Dil Bhar Gaya” is still very popular. Dilip Kumar won Filmfare’s best actor award for this film.
7 Footpath (1953)- directed by Zia Sarhadi. The first time Dilip Kumar acted with Meena Kumari in the film. The music was by Khayyam. The song “ Sham e Gham Ki Kasam, Aaj Ghamgeen Hain Hum” became very popular and considered as one of the best songs sung by Talat Mehmood.
8 Aan (1953)- Directed by Mehboob Khan. Costar in the film were Nimmi, Nadira, and Premnath. Music by Naushad, songs of this film became very popular. This was India’s first film in colour.
9 Amar (1955)- directed by Mehboob Khan. Costar in the film were Nimmi and Madhubala. In this film also Dilip Kumar portrayed a character with grey shades. Music by Naushad.
10 Azaad (1956)- It was his first film made in the south. On the advice of his psychiatrist that he should stop playing serious characters in the film because after playing them he used to go into depression. This was the first comic and light role which he enacted. Music was by C Ramchandra, and songs were very popular. The film was a blockbuster. Dilip Kumar won Filmfare’s best actor award for this film
11 Musafir (1957)- directed by Bimal Roy. The film was a classic, did not do well at the box office but Dilip’s acting was highly appreciated. In this film, the first time he sang his own song.
12 Naya Daur (1957)- directed by BR Chopra. It was a social film based on the man vs machine concept and industrilisation of villages. His costar was Vyjayantimala, Ajit, and Johny Walker. Music by OP Nayyar was super hit and its songs are still popular. He won Filmfare’s best actor award for this film.
13 Yahudi (1958)-directed by Bimal Roy. Co starring Meena Kumari and Sohrab Modi. Music by Shankar Jaikishan. Its song “ Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai, Ya Mohabbat Ka Suroor” became very popular.
14 Madhumati (1958)- directed by Bimal Roy. Vyjayantimala was his heroine. The film was based on the theme of reincarnation. Music by Salil Chowdhari was a super hit.
15 Kohinoor (1960)- directed by SU Sunny. Co-starring Meena Kumari. Super Hit music by Naushad. He got Filmfare’s best actor award for this film.
16 Mughal e Azam (1960)- directed by K Asif. The most expensive film of that era. Co-starring Prithviraj Kapoor & Madhubala. Music by Naushad. The film was a super-duper hit.
17 Ganga Jamuna (1961)- directed by Nitin Bose. Co-starring Vyjayantimala & Naseer Khan. The story of two brothers one becoming Dacoit and the other Police Inspector. Music by Naushad.
18 Ram Aur Shyam (1967)- directed by Chanakya. Co starring Waheeda Rehman and Mumtaz. Music by Naushad. He won Filmfare’s best actor award for this film.
19 Sungharsh (1968)- directed by HS Rawail, Co-starring Vyjayantimala, Balraj Sahni, Sanjeev Kumar & Jayant. Music by Naushad.
20 Shakti (1982)- directed by Ramesh Sippy. Co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhi, and Smita Patil. Music by RD Burman. He won Filmfare’s best actor award for this film. This was the film from here he stopped playing normal hero’s role and swithced over to character roles
21 Mashal (1984)- directed by Yash Chopra. Co- starring Waheeda Rehman, Anil Kapoor & Rati Agnihotri.
22 Karma (1987)- directed by Subhash Ghai. Co-starring Nutan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah & Anupam Kher. Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal. Super Hit film.
23 Saudagar (1991)-directed by Subhash Ghai. Co-starring Raaj Kumar, Vivek Mushran & Manisha Koirala. Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
24 Leader (1964)- directed by Ram Mukherjee. His heroine was Vyjayantimala. Music by Naushad. In this film also he acted in a light role and won Filmfare’s best actor award.
and Lastly, I have kept this film in the end as in my opinion this was his best film acting-wise. His acting in this film is considered among the top 5 performances on the Hindi screen.
25 Devdas (1956)- directed by Bimal Roy. Co-starring Vyjayantimala and Suxchitra Sen. Music by SD Burman. For this film also he bagged Filmfare’s best actor award.
I hope you like my selection of Dilip Kumar’s top 25 performances.
Waiting for your views and comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
23rd April 2021.