Dilip Kumar Passes Away: India Mourns Its 'Tragedy King'

Celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, VVS Laxman and others took to Twitter to pay tributes to Dilip Kumar, who died at 98 on Wednesday.

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Updated: 07 Jul 2021 11:11 am

Beloved actor Dilip Kumar, known to generations of cinema-goers as the Bollywood's 'Tragedy King', passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday at the age of 98. The 'Mughal-e-Azam' actor had been ailing with age-related complications for some time and had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai's Khar.

The news broke after family friend Faisal Farooqui took to Kumar's Twitter account and shared the heartbreaking update.

"With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab, a few minutes ago. We are from God and to Him, we return," the tweet read.

Following the news, Bollywood actors and media persons took to the microblogging site to express their condolences and mourn the loss of one of India's oldest thespians.

Amitabh Bachchan took to Twitter to express his condolences and said Kumar was an "institution" in himself and he leaves behind an indelible mark on Indian cinema.

T 3958 - An institution has gone .. whenever the history of Indian Cinema will be written , it shall always be 'before Dilip Kumar, and after Dilip Kumar' ..
My duas for peace of his soul and the strength to the family to bear this loss .. ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ¤²ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ¤²ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ¤²
Deeply saddened .. ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 7, 2021

Actor Akshay Kumar tweeted that the legendary actor's passing away has left a huge void in the film industry.

To the world many others may be heroes. To us actors, he was The Hero. #DilipKumar Sir has taken an entire era of Indian cinema away with him.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Om Shanti ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ» pic.twitter.com/dVwV7CUfxh
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 7, 2021

Actor Ajay Devgn tweeted his condolences.

Shared many moments with the legend...some very personal, some on stage. Yet, nothing really prepared me for his passing away. An institution, a timeless actor. Heartbroken.
Deepest condolences to SairajiðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ¼#DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/Il8qaMOOhf
— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) July 7, 2021

Cricketer VS Laxman also took to Twitter to pay tribute.

End of an Era.
My heartfelt condolences to #DilipKumar Sahab’s family and admirers all over the world. Legends like him live on through their exemplary work ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ¼ pic.twitter.com/6mjyHQEcbP
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 7, 2021

Another former Indian cricketer, Wasim Jaffer, tweeted his condolences.

Really sad to know that Dilip Kumar saab is no more. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He was one of the greatest icons of the film industry and he will live on forever through his workðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ» #DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/cDM3hJ8RKG
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 7, 2021

Telugu actor and politician Chiranjeevi condoled the actor's death.

An Era comes to an END in the Indian Film Industry.Deeply Saddened by the passing of LEGEND #DilipKumar Saab. One of the GREATEST Actors India has ever produced,an Acting Institution & a National Treasure. Enthralled the world for several decades.May his soul Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/f5Wb7ATs6T
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) July 7, 2021

Boxer and actor Vijender Singh expressed his grief at the passing of the actor whom he addressed as Yusuf Saab.

Yusuf Saab rest in peace ðÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂðÂÂÂÂÂÂ½ #DilipKumar pic.twitter.com/NbVNiOGNG7
— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) July 7, 2021

Academic and historians such as Irfan Habib also expressed grief at the passing of the Nehruvian doyen.

Dilip Kumar was not just a super performer, with his distinctive style, he was an erudite man. So well versed in literature, particularly Urdu and English poetry. Truly an irreplaceable loss. #DilipKumar
— S lrfan Habib (@irfhabib) July 7, 2021

Many other actors also took to social media to pay their tributes. 'Family Man' actor Manoj Bajpayee tweeted that Dilip Kumar will always remain irreplaceable. "No one like you! Have a great journey from here on master... Rest in peace," the "Family Man" actor wrote.

Filmmakers Hansal Mehta and Subhash Ghai also remembered Kumar.

Mehta referred to Kumar as one of the "greatest" actors and wrote, "There will never be another Dilip Kumar." Ghai, who worked with Dilip Kumar in films like "Karma" (1986) and "Saudagar" (1991) said the actor's passing away was the "saddest day" of his life.

"Dilip saheb Yusuf bhai gone. My personal loss of my most precious idol. No words," Ghai tweeted.

According to Kumar's doctors, the actor passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am on Wednesday.