Legendary actor Dilip Kumar turns 95, B-Town prays for his long life

MUMBAI: Mumbai: Tragedy King’ and legendary actor Dilip Kumar turns 95 on Monday and to celebrate this, a small get together of family members and close friends will be organised, said wife and veteran actress Saira Banu. The actor has just been treated for mild pneumonia. “On Dilip Saab’s birthday, as we get together as a family with Saab’s brothers, sisters, relatives and some close friends, my thoughts reach out to all the wonderful fans and well wishers for the duas and prayers for Dilip Saab. A million thanks,” Banu tweeted from Dilip Kumar’s official Twitter handle.

https://twitter.com/TheDilipKumar/status/939849755311595520

The yesteryear actor says she feels blessed that so many people send their best wishes and prayers for Kumar’s well-being.

https://twitter.com/TheDilipKumar/status/939836164843769856

From Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan to younger talent like Farhan Akhtar and Riteish Deshmukh — celebrities from the film world on Monday wished the legendary Dilip Kumar good health and a long life on his 95th birthday.

His wife Saira Banu plans to treat him to his favourite delicacies — biryani and vanilla ice cream — on the occasion.

Banu says she is not planning to throw a birthday party this time as Kumar is still recovering from pneumonia.

https://twitter.com/TheDilipKumar/status/939851027330641920

“He loves biryani and that will be made for him but I will give him only little as he is unwell. He is also fond of vanilla ice cream, I will ask the doctors if we can give him a little bit of that too. Then we will have a birthday cake,” Banu says in an interview with PTI.

“We will not have a grand birthday party as he is not keeping well. The immune system is not so good after he was down with pneumonia. I cannot let him exert now,” she adds.

Banu also plans to buy Kumar a new pair of shirt and trousers.

“Dilip Sahab is fond of good and simple clothes. He likes cotton shirts and trousers and matching shoes and socks. He has a huge collection of shoes, which he has from world over.

“Every year I order things of his choice. He is not a materialistic man. He doesn’t like expensive gifts. My one consistent gift to him every year is my love, which keeps intensifying,” she says.

Dilip Kumar debuted as an actor in “Jwar Bhata”. His career has spanned over six decades and over 65 films. He was later seen in films like “Andaz”, “Babul”, “Deedar”, “Aan”, “Devdas”, “Azaad”, “Naya Daur”, “Yahudi”, “Madhumati”, “Kohinoor”, “Mughal-e-Azam”, “Gunga Jamuna” and “Ram Aur Shyam”.

As an actor, he last graced the silver screen in 1998’s “Qila”. Now his fans get a glimpse of the ailing star via social media posts.

Earlier on August 2, Kumar was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital due to kidney issues. Kumar has acted in over 65 films in his career and is known for his iconic roles in movies like ‘Devdas ‘(1955), ‘Naya Daur’ (1957), ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960), ‘Ganga Jamuna’ (1961), ‘Kranti’ (1981), and ‘Karma’ (1986). Last seen on the big screen in ‘Qila’ in 1998, the actor was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.