Dilip Kumar admitted to hospital, doctor says next 72 hours crucial

Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar was hospitalised on Saturday morning after complaining of respiratory problems. Doctors said the actor may be shifted to ICU if his condition did not improve.

Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar was admitted to a hospital early on Saturday after he complained of respiratory problems. The actor was brought to Lilavati hospital in Mumbai at around 2.30 am on Saturday, hospital sources said.

Dilip Kumar was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital early on Saturday morning. He is suffering from respiratory problems. (HT Photo)

“I got a call that he was unwell. He had fever and had vomited a few times. He was suffering from pneumonia as well. His white blood cells had shot up. We thought it would be better to admit him to hospital,” Dr Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital.

In an update, Dr Parkar told ANI that the actor would have to be shifted to ICU if “he didn’t recover well in the next 48 hours”. He also said that the “next 72 hours are important”.

Earlier, family sources had said that there is nothing to worry.

A file picture of Union home minister Rajnath Singh presenting Padma Vibhushan to Dilip Kumar at his residence. Maharashtra governor C Vidyasagar Rao (r), chief minister Devendra Fadnavis (l) and Kumar’s wife Saira Banu are also seen. (IANS)

Born Mohammad Yusuf Khan, the actor started his Bollywood sojourn at the age of 22 with Jwar Bhata (1944). In a career spanning over six decades, Kumar starred in films such as Andaz, Aan, Devdas and the historical saga Mughal-e-Azam.

Read: Honoured with Padma Vibhushan, Dilip Kumar tears up

Called the ‘tragedy king of Bollywood’, he also featured in Kranti, Shakti, Karma and Saudagar. His last film was Qila in 1998. Kumar was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2015. Earlier, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.