Salute to the thespian

Dilip Kumar may well have retired from films, but his iconic appeal persists. The hero of such all-time hit as Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga-Jamuna and Sagina Mahato has been the subject of countless books over the years. And now a documentary is being made on him, by none other than Subhash Ghai.

Ghai has already worked with the thespian in three films — Vidhata, Karma and Saudagar and claims to have developed a "personal bond" with him over time. "I have known him over 12 years and I thought to myself, as a filmmaker, it was my duty to document the legend," said the self-proclaimed showman.

The film, which is presently at the scripting state, will trace the origins of the actor since his arrival in Mumbai from Pakistan with stars in his eyes, his transformation from Yusuf Khan to Dilip Kumar and how he went on to scale the heights of popularity and stardom.

"The film will showcase the man in totality. I will delve into different aspects of his persona and show his evolution as an actor, as a family man, a great professional, a great human being and most importantly, as an institution in the Hindi film industry."

Ghai feels that his subject’s "magnificent career and life" is great food for thought. "How many people can you name who has earned so much fame and fortune in one life time?" he asks. "And yet here is a man who is completely above board and honest to the core."

The filmmaker, who is yet to recover from the debacle of his Kisna, points out that the documentary would be his "humble tribute" to Dilip Kumar and would be seeking inputs from people in the industry (including Mahesh Bhatt) who have known him well.

"Dilip Kumar’s story is not only interesting for the layman, but also very inspiring for every youngster foraying into films," he added. "I am not interested in his personal life which was talk of the town in the early 1980s. But then, who knows, it could also be relevant. It all depends how the film shapes up."

— MF

HOME