Dilip Kumar: Tragedy King's romantic sojourns

In a career spanning around five decades and six dozen films, including some that remained incomplete, Dilip Kumar romanced with or died (on-screen) for some of the most popular heroines of his era.

Hyderabad: He was indisputably the Tragedy King of Hindi cinema but, in a career spanning around five decades and six dozen films, including some that remained incomplete, Dilip Kumar romanced with or died (on-screen) for some of the most popular heroines of his era Noorjehan, Kamini Kaushal, Vyjanthimala Bali, Waheeda Rehman, Suchitra Sen, Meena Kumari, Nargis, Madhubala, Nimmi, Nutan, Leena Chandavarkar, and of course, his doting wife Saira Banu, who cheerfully cared for him till the end.

Dilip Kumar's romance with Kamini Kaushal was reportedly Kumar's first flame and also his first serious heartbreak. In fact, if Trinetra Bajpai and Anshula Bajpai's book Dilip Kumar: Peerless Icon Inspiring Generations, is anything to go by, Kaushal's brother reportedly shot himself, having failed to end the Dilip-Kamini romance. This has been seen as a major reason why the affair ended. The duo worked together in films like Shaheed, Shabnam and Nadiya Ke Paar.

At an early stage in his career, Dilip Kumar and his co-star, Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi, better known as Madhubala, were deep in love, but could never marry because of her father's opposition and certain other issues later.

Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal worked together in films such as Nadiya Ke Paar, Shaheed, Shabnam as Arzoo

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Madhubala's romance with Dilip Kumar was fated to be doomed, too as Madhubala's father Attaullah Khan reportedly did not approve of the romance, because she was the sole breadwinner of a big family. Attaullah feared marriage to Dilip Kumar would mean his daughter would stop working in films, thereby cutting off the family's only income source.

Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in a still from Tarana

The book Dilip Kumar: Peerless Icon Inspiring Generations, however, has a different contention. At the height of the Dilip Kumar-Madhubala romance, the book suggests, Attaullah Khan wanted Dilip Kumar to star opposite his daughter in a film he wished to produce. The book adds that Attaullah also wanted Dilip Kumar to work exclusively on priority for his banner. This was, naturally not acceptable to Dilip Kumar, who otherwise was keen to marry Madhubala if she agreed to stop working in films after settling down.

Dilip Kumar with Madhubala in a still from Mughal-E-Azam

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One of the widely talked about love stories of Hindi cinema was that of Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala's as they had scintillating on-screen chemistry which reportedly stemmed from their off-screen romance. A lot was written about it the two but they never admitted to being in a relationship.

Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in a still from Gunga Jumna

According to reports, Vyjayanthimala's ousting from Ram aur Shyam (1967) played a huge part in things going south for her relationship with Dilip Kumar. While she thought it was Kumar who got her replaced while it was a call made by makers after they felt that she was being fussy over things like her costumes and jewelry and hence she was replaced by Waheeda Rehman in the film.

Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in a still from Leader

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Saira Banu was just 12 when she fell in love with the superstar Dilip Kumar. In her initial days, Saira was linked to many actors, but her eyes were on Dilip Kumar. The legendary actor, however, declined many film offers with her because he thought she was too young. But he couldn't escape the charm of Saira Banu and ended up marrying her in 1966. Saira was 22 years younger than him when they tied the knot and barring a brief hiccup, their marriage lasted happily for more than five decades till he took his last breath on July 7.

Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu in a still from Gopi

The superstar made headlines in 1981 when he fell in love with and married Asma Rehman, who was then living in Hyderabad. It ended in 1983 and Rehman later migrated to Canada.