MUMBAI: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to grant veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar’s ancestral home in the historic Qissa Khwani bazaar heritage status invoked memories of his old house.
Last week, the government completed formalities in granting the status of national heritage to his house in Mohallah Khudadad, Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar. Born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan in a statement Saturday said, "The news that house where I was born (1922) and where I spent a good part of my childhood in Peshawar's Qissa Khwani Bazaar, then in undivided India, will be given the honour of being a part of national heritage of Pakistan has sent my mind racing back to memories of happy days spent in the spacious home and its surroundings.”
"I am at once full of fond remembrances of my parents, grandparents and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins who filled the house with the sounds of their chatter and hearty laughter. I can vividly recall the piggy rides on my grandfather's back and the scary stories my grandmother cooked up to forbid me from wandering out of the house alone," the veteran actor said.
Known as the Tragedy King of Bollywood, he said he has penned down all his memory from his time in Qissa Khwani in his autobiography, due to release soon.
Incidentally, Peshawar has produced some gems in the field of performing arts such as Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan, to name a few. The KP government intends to preserve houses of more legendary Bollywood stars.
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Yusuf Saheb,is his name,his screen name is Dilip Kumar.I have known almost my entire life,he has not one single mean bone in him,he is as white inside as he is out side.Every Indian respect him so Former President Kalam,also Javeed Akthar,they are great human being and Indian also.Some of you guys have to grow up,and appreciate real talent and goodness.Lot of people like Fazal Mohamud,Hanif Mohd and Imran Khan and Fateh Ali Khan,Gulam Ali and many more,They are good people and when they visit India,people flock to their programme,they appreciate the kindness and love shown to them.Why do some of you are so mean and full of malice and uncharitable,than you say you are peace loving people,show some class for a change.
@ alam khurshid: he is not hindko, he is from Peshawer,. Hindko happens to be the langauge of almost all urban areas of NWFP, including Kohat, Peshawer, Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. Its the majority language of the region as opposed to the common misconception taht pushto is the most spoken language in teh region. So he is Hindko speaking similar to the kapoors and greats like Firdous Jamal.
@Ali Mehdi: Thats a very bad analysis of yours. Can you throw some light on when Abdul Kalam said he is an atheist? Also nothing wrong in Javed Akhtar writing on Mahabharata or Ramayana, these text are sub continental heritage and belongs to non Hindus as well. Yes India's society is conservative but by and large secular and tolerant and I include not only Hindus but Muslims and other minorities as well. Perhaps being part of a country which is not secular, you find the likes of Javed Akhtar and Abdul Kalam abhorrent. In India we are proud of them.
Dilip kumar is his screen name. Lots of actors choose one. Also nothing wrong in associating with a Hindu name. Almost all Pakistanis had Hindu ancestors. Like dilip kumar who is hindko in origin - almost certainly a recent convert.
Alam
Yousuf Khan is known for his character and integrity. He was never like Veena Malik that has become obsession for some journalists.
This was a very honourable act of the KP Govt, long live sanity
What is the real name of Pakistani Actor Sudhir Kumar?
Dilip Kumar is his screen name.
@Asad Khan
Subcontinent people remain in such delusions . Forget about the actor , Pakistanis even think Palestine people as their family and envy Israel . What a family values ?Own country goes somewhere else....
To appeal to the broadest possible segment of his target population...where Shahrukh, Aamir, Salman, Sohail, and Imran don't have to. Got any Hindu, or non-muslim actors where you come from?
thats i think the first thing i like about ANP government.....wow great work for preserving the cultural heritage.
its a good thing to do. as for other indian actors, i think we shold first give respect to those who seved this country not some other country. We need to sort out our priorities.
@Imran: "Why did he change his name to dilip kumar?" When he entered the film industry, it was done for public acceptability. He did not change the name but he was asked to take that name if he wanted the job. It happened with others too. Example, Madhubala, Meena Kumari etc. etc. Later this requirement was dropped as unnecessary. Example, Suraiyya, Noor Jehan, Munawwar Sultana, Rehman etc. etc.
@ Imran
does it matter? will u not respect him anymore?! Its his film name.
@Imran: Better still, why did he stay in India?
@Imran: Well Hindustan is for Hindus, if you want to make a career thanfew options: Change your Muslim name (like Dilip) Marry some Hindu girl or boy (Shahrukh) Call your atheist and visit temples (Abdul Kalam) Even them some still denied residence in Hindu areas (Shabana Azmi) Write few poems for Mahabharat & Ram (Javed Akhtar)
some way or the other you have to associate yourself with Hindu religion only than you might get some edge in the conservative society of India
Why did he change his name to dilip kumar?
To the Editor, Can we have some pictures please. Thanks
i dont think mr.shahrukhkhan qualifies personally to belong to KP.His anesstors might have migerated to india.He was born and brought up in Delhi