MUMBAI: Dilip Kumar’s real name is Mohammed Yusuf Khan. His father was a ‘Pathan’ from Peshawar, who came to Mumbai with his family and settled here. His mother, Ayesha Begum, was a house wife. The renowned area of ‘Qissa Khwani Bazaar’, Peshawar has still the family house of Dilip Kumar and his ancestors.
Famous Bollywood Actor, Producer & Director Raj Kapoor was also born in the same locality of Qissa Khwani Bazar, Peshawar. Dilip Kumar‘s father Lala Ghulam Sarwar was a landlord and fruit merchant. He had twelve children including Yusuf Khan, who became superstar Dilip Kumar of Bollywood.
Dilip Kumar’s younger brother Nasir Khan also acted in some films including popular film ‘Ganga Jamuna’ in which he played the role of Dilip Kumar’s younger brother.
Other siblings of Dilip Kumar are Ehsan Khan, Aslam Khan, Noor Mohammed, Sarwar Khan, Fawzia Khan, Sakina Khan, Taj Khan, Saeeda Khan, Akhtar Asif.
K. Asif, Director of the super-hit film Mughal-e-Azam, was a close friend of Dilip Kumar. His sister Akhtar Khan married K.Asif. Whereas Dilip Kumar’s other sister Saeeda Khan got married to the son of great film director Mehboob Khan’s son Iqbal Khan.
One of the elder brothers of Dilip Kumar, Mr.Ayub Sarwar, was a film writer in the Pakistani film industry. He had a desire to make an Indo-Pak Film ‘Kaala Admi “ as a director with Dilip Kumar as its lead actor. He had planned to direct this film himself. However destiny had other plans and he expired before such plan could take a concrete shape.
During the initial period of Dilip Kumar’s migration to Mumbai from Peshawar, his father Lala Ghulam Sarwar had properties and businesses in Deolali, Nasik in Maharashtra. Whereas Lala Ghulam Sarwar also started his fruit business at Crawford market in Mumbai.
The little Yusuf Khan got basic schooling in Deolali, Nasik where he was admitted in Barnes School. Since the family shifted to Mumbai, his father admitted his brilliant son Yusuf Khan to Anjuman e Islam Urdu School, CST where he completed his school education.
Well known educationist, cricket, football lover and teacher of repute Khalifa Ziauddin was the then Principal of Anjuman e Islam Urdu High School, CST. Yusuf Khan was a favorite student and Khalifa Ziauddin was among his most favorite teacher.
Dilip Kumar married Saira Banu in 1966. He was a forty four years old and Saira Banu’s age was twenty two then. Saira Banu ‘s mother Naseem Banu was also a successful Actress of Hindi Cinema.
In 1982, Dilip Kumar married Asma Khan, a divorced woman from Hyderabad. But this marriage lived for a short period as huge controversy erupted over this marriage. Dilip Kumar divorced Asma Khan and Saira Banu proved her loyal and devoted wife till now.
Currently 95 years old and battling old age and illness, Dilip Kumar is still in the hearts and prayers of a whole generation who grew up seeing his movies.
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