Film Shakti starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar and ever beautiful actress Rakhi Gulzar. And there was Madam Smita Patil with her spectacular performance. Amitabh’s angry young role, his steaming romance with Roma, other side a tussle between a Father and Son, Rakhi in a role of a helpless Mother. This film revolved around a powerful story line with a distinctively powerful acting of Sir Dilip Kumar.

This was time when my obsession for Mr Bachchan was causing a great discomfort to my parents. I am eating, sleeping, talking like him. Keeping long hair covering the earlobe, ignoring the fact I was reaching no way near him with my round Bengali face cut, and with average height.

While I was getting prepared to watch Shakti, a name that was coming into ears from elders around was Dilip kumar, people were not really mentioning Amitabh Bachchan. His die hard fan within me was revolting why isn’t Amitabh’s name mentioned by these elders. Who is Dilip kumar.. How great can he be in-front of Vijay. The tall angry guy.

Then came the day, after a huge struggle of managing a film ticket, entered the theatre with excitement at peak of watching Shakti.. my loving Hero. My obsession will be on screen and I would watch him for next three hours. But as the film rolled, the elderly gentleman on screen was found to be doing a much intense job and no way that could be ignored. It was hard to digest someone is giving a great run to Vijay on screen and have been overpowering him constantly with his great acting skill on a literal sense. I was reluctant to accept Dilip Kumar and he was sort of injecting this truth in everyone’s mind.. Guys look at me.

Years passed, but film Shakti and Dilip Kumar’s role of a strict Police Superintendent, his mannerism, facial expression, and dialogue delivery is well embedded in mind even today.

A similar powerful acting seen of him in Mashaal.
Koi hai.. Gaadi roko bhaai.. The helpless old gentleman screaming for help on a deserted city street mid of the night, to take his ill wife to hospital.

My experience of watching Dilip Kumar limits to just two movies, and it was enough to hold the highest regard for him.

Dilip Kumar was an institution, an epitome of Indian style of acting in the history of Indian Cinema.

Dilip Saab, amar rahe.

digitalIllustration, #Dilipkumar #utpalsheatrzout

Facebook post on 10th July 2021