Dilip Kumar once spent an entire day in jail due to..., was nicknamed 'Gandhiwala' by...
As a young man working in a British army canteen in Pune, he openly criticised the empire's policies and demanded independence for India. The speech was deemed seditious, and the British authorities arrested him, locking him up in Yerwada Jail, where many freedom fighters were already imprisoned. He was nicknamed 'Gandhiwala'
Inside, he joined a hunger strike and was quickly dubbed a 'Gandhiwala' — a supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. Although his jail time lasted only one night, it left an indelible mark. He was released the next morning thanks to a familiar Major who intervened on his behalf.
Dilip Kumar was born on 11 December 1922 in Peshawar (now in Pakistan). His family migrated to India and eventually settled in Mumbai. Acting wasn't on his radar — until fate intervened.
A chance meeting with Devika Rani, head of Bombay Talkies, changed his life. She offered him a job at Rs 1,250 per month (a princely sum then) and suggested a new screen name: Dilip Kumar.
For those of you who don't know, his film career began in the 1940s, and over the next five decades, he delivered iconic performances in films like Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Naya Daur, Andaz, Ganga Jamuna, and more, forever redefining the emotional landscape of Indian cinema. The man behind the legend
Dilip Kumar married actress Saira Banu, who was much younger than he was. Despite the age gap, their bond remained strong for decades. On 7 July 2021, he passed away at the age of 98 at Mumbai's PD Hinduja Hospital.
His death wasn't just the end of an actor; it was the closing chapter of an era. Yet, his films, memories, and even untold stories, such as his night in jail, continue to live on.
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