Dilip Kumar earned fans all over the world for his outstanding work in Hindi films, but incidentally, the thespian also made his mark in Bengali cinema for a short period in his career. He endeared to Bengali audiences with his supreme performances in films ‘Paari’ and ‘Sagina Mahato’.
The Bollywood icon’s empathy for the 1978 flood victims of Bengalinspired him to lead a team of Bollywood actors and score 54 in a charity cricket match at Eden Gardens on February 11, 1979. What’s more interesting is his team played opposite Uttam Kumar’s team and it remains an example for many. His keen interest in watching Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting matches at the historic Rovers Cup and his admiration for Chuni Goswami still remain the most talked-about stories of Kolkata football maidan.
Being one of the most prized discoveries of director Amiya Chakraborty, Dilip Kumar always had a likeness to Bengali cinema and culture. The actor enjoyed the literary works of Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra, and others, while also enjoying a great friendship with directors like Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
So, it’s no surprise that Dilip Kumar’s death last year truly marked the end of an era for his countless admirers across Bengal. Social media was flooded with tributary messages from each and every corner for the legendary actor who passed away on July 7, 2021. Be it Bollywood to politics and sports, the entire country mourned the big loss.
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