Veteran actor Dilip Kumar passed away at the age of 98 on July 7, leaving behind a legacy of films that spanned six decades. Several celebrities and thousands of fans paid tribute to the actor after his sad demise. In a piece for a leading daily, Naseeruddin Shah also acknowledged the ‘undoubted greatness’ of Dilip’s performances but questioned his contribution to cinema. He pointed out that his filmography was limited, compared to his contemporaries.
“Some of those works doubtless will survive the test of time but, given the position he was in, it is more than evident he didn’t do enough apart from acting and being involved in social causes close to his heart. He produced only one film, didn’t direct any (officially at least), never passed on the benefit of his experience, didn’t bother to groom anyone, and apart from his pre-1970s performances, left behind no significant lessons for future actors; even his autobiography is but a rehash of old interviews,” he wrote.
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“It’s baffling why a man as conscious of his place in history as he was should be reluctant to record his interaction with some of the admittedly great filmmakers of his time or say anything really informative about the nature of his work and technique. I wish, at some point, he had at least been forthright about the travails involved in retaining legions of devoted fans,” he added.
Dilip breathed his last at the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai on July 7 and is survived by his wife Saira Banu.
(Source: The Indian Express)
