Actor Dilip Kumar in ICU with kidney trouble, say Mumbai doctors

Doctors said that he was initially shifted there to receive medication through intravenous drip but later was kept under observation owing to kidney complication.

Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Lilavati Hospital with kidney-related complications on Thursday, said a source close to the family. Earlier, he received medication through an intravenous drip.

Actor Dilip Kumar in the Intensive Care Unit of Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital on Friday. Doctors say his condition is stable.

“His creatinine level has gone up, leading to urinary complications. But he is stable. He was brought to the hospital because of dehydration and kidney problems,” said a doctor at the hospital. High creatinine levels are associated with impaired kidneys.

“He is completely stable and the only major issue was dehydration. As dehydration also affects the kidneys and other organs briefly, he suffered minor urinary issues, otherwise there is no major complications,” said Dr Ravishankar, chief executive of the hospital.

The 94-year-old actor has been facing medical complications in recent years. In April last year, he was hospitalised with fever and nausea. In December, he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital to treat a swelling in his right leg.

Kumar acted in more than 65 films over six decades and is known for his iconic roles in movies such as Devdas (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Ganga Jamuna (1961), Kranti (1981), and Karma (1986).

He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1991, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and India’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, in 2015. Pakistan honoured him with its highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 1997.