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Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh write to Saira Banu on Dilip Kumar’s death
Gandhi said that Kumar lived a “long and a fulfilled life” and left India with a “priceless legacy” through his work in the field of art and culture
Congress president Sonia Gandhi offered “heartfelt condolences” to Saira Banu, actor, and wife of famous Hindi film actor Dilip Kumar, after the thespian passed away on Wednesday at a Mumbai hospital at the age of 98.
“With passing away of your beloved husband Shri Dilip Kumar, the golden age of Indian cinema has finally come to an end,” Gandhi wrote.
She added that Kumar, who was a “legend in his lifetime”, will continue in live in the hearts of people in future too as “generations of film lovers will continue to watch him with admiration in his films that his superb acting skills turned into evergreen classics.”
“Who can forget the realism and the emotion, power that he brought into roles in films as diverse as Ganga Jamuna, Daag, Deedar, Mughal-e-Azam, Naya Daur, Madhumati, Devdas, Ram Aur Shyam, and so many more,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi said that Kumar lived a “long and a fulfilled life” and left India with a “priceless legacy” through his work in the field of art and culture. “His loss will be deeply mourned by his countless fans and India will always honour his memory,” she said, while wishing peace for the departed soul.
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Former prime minister Manmohan Singh also offered condolences to Saira Banu, saying Kumar was the “first Khan” and “tragedy king” of Indian cinema, and his death was an “irreparable loss.”
In a letter to Banu, Singh said the actor’s death was a moment of “profound sorrow” and added that “his distinguished contribution to the Indian Cinema will always be remembered by the people of our country and by all the Hindi film lovers all over the world.”
Calling Kumar a legend of Indian cinema “who will remain a prince in the minds of generations of Hindi cinema lovers,” Singh added that Kumar also held the Guinness World Record for winning the maximum number of awards by an Indian actor.
“His contribution in the field of Indian cinema was recognised by the Government of India by awarding him the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian awards of India,” Singh wrote adding that he and his wife Gursharan joins the bereaved family in the hour of grief.
Saira Banu and Kumar had been married since 1966. Kumar was admitted to a Mumbai hospital after experiencing breathlessness on June 30.
