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DILIP KUMAR- A Catharsis among audiences and the prodigy of sullen roles in Bollywood.
Whenever we think about a melancholic role that an actor plays in Bollywood we cannot help but remember one man that made such roles famous, and that person is none other than ‘Dilip Kumar’. Going back to the times when cable television was scarce and all people could watch were the telecast of the infamous Doodarshan Kendra, people could not help but admire the stars that were brought to the view every weekend in the evenings. It can be honestly claimed that those movies were the earliest form of electronic entertainment. It was through those movies that the people belonging to that generation fell in love with actors such as Amitabh Bachchan in angry young man roles, Raj Kapoor joking around, Shammi Kapoor gyrating, the renowned white pants of Jitendra and of course the legendary tragedies of Dilip Kumar. These pioneers of the Bollywood film industry has undeniably influenced during one phase of our lives or another. They have set the path way for the struggling actor of today’s generation and have also set upon minds some fond memories.
| He was a catharsis to audiences that have never felt or been exposed to such real and raw emotions in the theatres or even at home in the comfort of their own living room. He was such prodigy for such roles and there was absolutely none better. |
Coming back to the person on focus, Dilip Kumar has definitely set the bar for actors after him. He was flawless in his roles and played them so intensely with extreme conviction that it almost seemed as though being a melancholic person was somewhat second nature to him. It was due to his dedication as an actor that he has gained so many fans and also become a person whom they all look up to. So when they heard and came to know of their icon suddenly being sent to the ICU for treatment as he had suffered a heart attack, everyone was bitterly concerned about his condition. There have been many who came up in Bollywood during his era, but they have all fallen victim to the treacherous act of life known as death. At the age of 90, he is the oldest and sole survivor of his generation. Even as he attends any event in the present day industry of Bollywood such as award functions and so on.., one cannot help but admire the greatness that he has achieved over the years that has gone by.
He was a catharsis to audiences that have never felt or been exposed to such real and raw emotions in the theatres or even at home in the comfort of their own living room. He was such prodigy for such roles and there was absolutely none better. His rise to fame however, did have its own upsets. Although it can be said that he achieved his fame and fortune by playing sullen roles in movies, but his dedication to these roles were so deep that there was even a point of time in his life, where his emotions got the better of him and he slipped into deep depression. He had to undergo a lot of psychiatric treatment and was even advised by doctors to start taking up more cheerful roles in his acting. This did indeed helped him regain his true self back and at the same time get rid of the onscreen self that had seeped into his normal life.
Recently, he had celebrated his annual birthday and has reached the glorious age of 90. He has still not lost his charm among women and also according to everyone, one of the most respectable and down to earth person you could ever meet. Even though he does not come up with movies anymore, however, his contribution to the Bollywood industry will live on forever so long as there is still a crave for gloomy roles which undoubtedly will always be alive. He is a living legend and it is true and correct to term him as the man who manages ‘fifty shades of sadness’.
