Unless you are a baby boomer, you probably haven’t tapped into the sensitivity and beauty of the classical era of Indian cinema. But for those who have loved and breathed classic and long-form cinema, and seen the creation of an industry named Bollywood, Dilip Kumar is a true legend. Hailed as the founding father of method acting and a precursor to the emotional depth seen in global cinema today, Kumar’s legacy lies in the heart of all film buffs.
In his 98-year-long life, which included a 57-year career and 54 films, Dilip Kumar is remembered as a tragedy king, comedy maestro, matinee idol, the ‘First Khan’, and an institution in himself—an artiste par excellence. Born in 1922 as Muhammad Yusuf Khan, part of the silent generation, Kumar’s achievements were no mean feat. The freedom movement was afoot, the country’s boundaries were getting redrawn, and cinema (an expensive pursuit) was barely a teenager, with the first full-length Indian feature film having been released in 1913.
There were no film schools, not many filmmakers, and the country was trying to recover from years of subjugation. Against this backdrop, a young handsome Kumar’s career was launched by the owner of Bombay Talkies in 1944. The beginning wasn’t favourable, with a hat trick of flops and some harsh criticism, particularly from a film journalist named Baburao Patel.
But fate had other plans. Young Kumar found willing producers and directors, honing his art along the way. While skills can be replicated, emotions and expressions are unique to a person, especially an actor. Painstaking, arduous, and filled with a constant search for better craftsmanship, filmmaking was Kumar’s breath and life until he moved away from the silver screen in the 1990s.
The Man Who Became Cinema summarizes the movies Kumar acted in, traces the impactful scenes, and celebrates the music and songs that created a fairy world on the silver screen. It is a heartfelt narrative that brings to life an era when films were rare, actors were rarer, and the men who breathed magic into characters were the rarest. Kumar was that once in a millennium phenomenon, who was laid to rest with state honours in July 2021. His legacy, especially the peak of success during 1950s-60s, is unforgettable and still alive on YouTube, if not in cinema halls.
However, legends aren’t made on a single Friday. There are many curves, hits, and misses before an actor becomes a ‘matinee idol’—a term now old-world, as Bollywood biggies are called superstars. For the generation coming out of the British Raj, the handsome man with mesmerising eyes and a sweet smile symbolised a dream world where everything was good. A master in the art of underplay, histrionics, and lip-syncing, Kumar was a perfectionist. He rehearsed his role umpteen times until satisfied and expected the same from his co-stars. He would often go for retakes until all the artistes performed perfectly. He has been called an institution in the art of acting, and all aspects of filmmaking by many of his team members.
The book is interlaced with dialogues, lyrics, compositions, and singers. The mentions of the various classical ragas might take a while to understand if you are not a music aficionado. Chopra highlights the magic created in many movies by composer Naushad, lyricist Shakeel Badayuni, and singer Mohammad Rafi with Kumar. He also talks a little bit about Kumar’s lady loves and his treatment for depression after the tragic characters that he portrayed. Dilip Kumar always got under the skin of the character, turning a script into a real-life scene.
As you turn chapter after chapter, you realize how creativity is akin to “samudra manthan” (churning of the ocean as per Indian mythology). With each twist, the artiste finds another skill, a new tool, a new way, and the churning continues until the optimum potential is achieved. In his 98-year-old life, Kumar went through many twists, not that many downs, but always found ways to hone his craft and perfect it with changing eras and the growth and proliferation of cinema. In the current era of cheap AI and instant gratification, Dilip Kumar’s perfectionism and hardwork garner even more appreciation.
The book is a knowledge bank of Indian culture, the pluralism that defines India, the arts that India brings to the forefront, and the fame of Kumar that travelled far and wide. Unfortunately, he didn’t accept the offers that came his way from Hollywood, or we would have seen him on the global screens too. Chopra hails him as a pioneer of method acting, long before Marlon Brando attained that status.
The book is a must-read for creative ones, those who love music, appreciate the cultural and arts of India, and seek to develop their own unique identities in the cinematic world.
Book Details
Publisher: Ebury Press (Penguin Random House India)
Language: English
Hardcover: 480 pages
Price: INR 799
Buy Here
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This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Ratna Prabha.
Queen of Treasures 
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I think there is hardly anyone who was not impressed by actor Dileep Kumar’s acting skills and would dispute his legendary status.
I have read his autobiography but I think Ashok Chopra’s book is more about the actor and the artist Dileep Kumar rather than the person and that would really make it a book to treasure for those with a passion for art or Dileep ji.
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The book is full of music, arts and classical way of cinema. All lost now.
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That’s a lovely review and I love how you unearth the gems and bring it to us. This book delves into the making of a legend. The refernece to the samudra manthan was spot on. It was interesting to know that Dilip Kumar got offers from Hollywood too back in those days but he turned them down.
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He got for Lawrence of Arabia! Imagine if he had taken that..
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What a beautifully written tribute to Dilip Kumar’s unparalleled legacy in Indian cinema! Your review captures the essence of his transformative impact, not just as an actor but as a pioneer of method acting in Bollywood.
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I might be wrong, but I see a reflection of him in the 2 biggest superstars who ruled after him. He is such an icon…his simplicity..his hairstyle and the way he looked into the camera.
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I actually like him better after reading this book! It just revealed so much of filmmaking and music and the amount of time and energy that goes into it.
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Awesome review — thanks for giving such a clear snapshot of the book’s contents. As a cinema buff I’m definitely intrigued but that price point is quite high IMO. Sigh! Let’s see. I’m an impulsive book buyer so might end up purchasing it on a whim someday.
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Seems like an interesting book. Your review of The Man Who became Cinera intrigues me. I think I am going to get my hands on this book, soon. Thank you for the insightful review.
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Dilip Kumar was an institution! An amazing actor who breathed life into every character he played. Even now we have actors trying to copy him and failing. The book seems to have covered all the major portions of his life and career.
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Sounds like a book dad and I both will love to read. Thank you for such a detailed analysis and beautiful recommendation.
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What an apt title! Dilip Kumar WAS cinema! He led a very interesting life off screen as well. Your well written and detailed review has made me curious about the book.
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For those who have keenly watched Dilip Kumar’s acting, he was indeed an institution in himself. True legends never stop learning and always keep improvising, a sign that separates them from the crowd. An artist like him will never be born again. Thanks for the wonderful review.
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Hindi Cinema Jagat ya koi bhi Indian regional Cinema ki nayek ya nayika jo ki ek mukam pa chuka tha apna zamane ma…. har ek ka ek kahani zarur ha. Magar bat ya ha ki kon sa kahani kiski dil ko chuyega ya to ek reader ka upar hi depend karega. Dilip Kumar ki kuch movie maina bhi dekha ha aur saraya bhi ha… magar pata nahi kiu inki zindagi sangarsh purna hona ka bayuzud bhi mujha kabhi janna ki echa nahi hui unki safar ki kahani. Magar apka is kitab ki review mujha pehli bar ek echha jagaya ki ma inki safarnama ko parhu. Sukriya
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Beautifully written review. You captured Dilip Kumar’s quiet intensity and the nostalgia his era evokes without slipping into hero worship. It made me want to pick up the book and a cup of chai at once.
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Beautifully written review. Am not much into biography of film stars but you have me tempted here. He is truly an institution in himself.
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What a beautifully detailed review! You’ve captured not just Dilip Kumar’s legacy, but the soul of an era where cinema was art, not noise. This makes me want to revisit his films and truly watch—not just see.
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Even though I am not a movie buff, Dilip Kumar is still a big name which you can’t ignore. Sometimes, I feel, people are ignoring our history even when it comes to art forms like theatre and cinema.
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Theatre is more ignored more than cinema.
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what an amazing review of the book written on the legend. I love how the author included quotes
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