Nevertheless, his return did not impress the critics enough. Kranti, Manoj Kumar’s overdramatic celluloid take on the unsung freedom fighters who had fought against the British, had Dilip playing the central role but his performance was roundly criticised by the critics. Devyani Chaubal, the gossip queen among Bombay’s film journalists who wrote a widely-read column, Frankly Speaking in Star & Style (now defunct) made light of his much-talked-about comeback, saying he at times looked like Khushwant Singh and also Kader Khan in the movie.