Where can I go to escape barbarism of my own people?

It’s heartening to think that even today there are rational elements, especially among younger generation, whom one sees challenging the politicians, Dilip Kumar told Subhash K Jha in an interview

Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
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Dilip Kumar

There might be many better actors than me. I’ll tell you I had no training and I wouldn’t have dared to venture into films were it not for my family’s financial conditions. The Second World war was extremely hard on the horticulture business.

My father would grow apricots, grapes, pomegrenates, apples and peaches. He would get those fruits tinned. He would proudly show me the size of the fruits and say, “This is what I want you to grow, Yusuf. Because you’re my most intelligent son.”

He wanted me to be educated so I could enhance the family business. A friend of my father Fateh Mohammah Khan had been honoured by the Queen. My father wanted to show the Britishers that he could grow fruits as good as his friend without being a toady.

I was always very business minded. I loved the family business. But it was a very tough life. The entire process from plucking to dispatch was very cumbersome. Bahut mushkil tha. I had to get another job with a decent salary. That’s where acting came in handy.

My father was very annoyed when I got into films. But then he heard other people whom he respected relishing the idea. Once Maulana Azad whom everyone revered, heard my father commenting caustically on one of his sons drifting into films, and exclaim what to do?

Maulana Saab intervened on my behalf and said there’s no telling what the future holds for anyone. He also told my father to be proud of his son’s achievements and implored him to be patient with my aspirations.


Speaking on communalism

Believe me, iss qadar jee bharaa hua hai ke hum poochte hain hum kahan ud ke jayen? Where can I go to escape the barbarism of my own people. It’s heartening to think that even today there are rational elements, especially among the younger generation whom one sees challenging the politicians of the country, asking them where they intend to take us.”

Every civilization is cyclic and must end. My personal view is that the Indian Muslim population may eventually be annihilated. But it won’t end there. The process of destroying civilizations will continue. I too am a Muslim. I worship my Maker the same way as you do.

I never think that my God is separate from yours. My Quran says there are many apostles like Muhammed and we shouldn’t discriminate against them. I read the Bhagavat Gita and the Vedanta with as much reverence as the Quran. The messages in our holy book and yours are identical.

Kyon khwah makhwah mein donon mein discriminate karoon?”

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