Here’s why late Atal Bihari Vajpayee had called Dilip Kumar to Delhi during the Kargil war – Times of India

The entire collection of Dilip Kumar’s books will be donated to his school Anjuman E Islam very soon. Dr Zaheer Kazi of the school informed, “He used to sit in the same library while he studied in the school. About 10 years ago, he told me that the library needs improvement and we got it renovated. At that time he told me that he would like to contribute his collection of books to the library. Yesterday, when I went to pay my respects to Sairaji she told me she would give the books as promised by Dilip saab to the Kareemi library’’.

Dr Kazi further revealed that Dilip Kumar and Barrister AR Antulay were two of the most favourite students of principal Khalifa Ziauddin and Dilip Kumar played football for the school. Dr Kazi said, “He used to play cricket and football, but was told that he is better in football, so, he was center-forward for the school football team’’.

Dr Kazi will also be making his contribution to Dilip Kumar’s biography, written by Udaya Tara Nayar. He said, “Dilip Kumar’s contribution to the field of education and social service has been tremendous and is not there in the public domain. So, Sairaji assigned me to help with that aspect of his life to be added to the book. Unfortunately, pandemic hit us and it was on hold but now he has asked me to start work on it too’’.

Kazi who has witnessed the thespian’s generosity and contribution to the field of education, added, “There are innumerable beneficiaries and educational institutes across the board, and whoever it may be, he would go and do fundraising for them’’. There is already an auditorium of the Anjuman E Islam in Bandra which is being named after Dilip Kumar and will be called Yusuf Khan Auditorium. “I have a lot more requests for naming educational institutes after Dilip Kumar and will be acting on it soon. Unki yaad zinda rehni chahiye (His memories must stay alive); he was of one of the greatest students we ever produced,’’ he reiterated.

Not many know that Dilip Kumar, who was a good friend of the late Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, was called to Delhi when the Kargil war broke out. Dr Kazi informed, “He was a true patriot. I remember when Kargil war took place, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called him to Delhi. He had just had a bypass surgery but he went there. Vajpayee saab requested him to speak to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for de-escalation of the war. There are very few people who know this but it was in a book written by the foreign minister of Pakistan and I knew about it.’’

Dr Kazi also cites an example about how Dilip Kumar was a perfectionist. “I have spent a lot of time with him and I remember him sharing a story about his preparation for the song ‘Madhuban Mein Radhika’ from the film ‘Kohinoor’. He told me he spent two months practicing for the rhythm of the song and the instruments used in the song.’’

Dr Kazi calls Dilip Kumar a true nationalist and adds that most of his films, be it in the pre-independence or post-independence eras had messages. “‘Naya Daur‘ had a message about the new India, ‘Leader’ highlighted corruption in politics–all his films had some social message,’’ he sums up.