Dilip Kumar: The Last Emperor

From being dismissed as a non-actor in his debut film Jwarbhata to creating an oeuvre that is admired by critics and repeatedly studied by actors to this day, Dilip Kumar has become a legend in his own lifetime. His tumultuous early years saw him crave for love but it was as if fate conspired to deny him, till he found it in Saira Banu, the woman he married.

He translated his real life angst into screen melodrama with such success that it brought him innumerable fans and the sobriquet of ‘Tragedy King’.  Although accused of being repetitive in his roles, he ensured that each of the characters he portrayed was well delineated right down to the last detail.

Sanjit Narwekar is a national award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker who has written and lectured on Indian cinema since 1970. He has served on several juries and selection committees and has been a member of the Film Advisory Board. He has also delivered talks, and hosted interviews and magazine programmes for All India Radio and Doordarshan.