DILIP KUMAR — THE BOX-OFFICE DEVTA

 The greatest superstar of Indian cinema history Dilip Kumar started his career with Jwar Bhata in 1944 but it barely scrape out at the box-office. It was followed by another flop Pratima. But the success was not far behind. Just after 3 years of debut his first breakthrough role come in Bombay Talkies Milan (1947) which was major box-office hit and it was followed by a sensational box-office grosser Jugnu which turned out to be one of the biggest hit of the decade. The success of these two films was followed by box-office hits like Mela, Nadiya Ke Paar, Shabnam, Ghar Ki Izzat and at last Andaz which smashed all the box-office records that existed then. In Andaz, he showed his acting histrionics and won the hearts of critics and public. At the end of 1940s decade he was instantly rated number one and the most popular star. 

Dilip Kumar's next decade 1950s started with a bang with Arzoo. 

With Arzoo Dilip Kumar proves what a fine dramatic actor he can be, given half the chance, in the sombre Arzoo. He has a role that makes the utmost demands on him, and he comes through with flying colours. Cast as an ardent lover whose passion changes to bitter hatred under the impact of jealousy, he plays with fervour opposite Kamini Kaushal, who, somehow, never quite rises to the occasion.. And the same year he gave brilliant performance in Jogan and not to forget Babul which was a mega success and turned out to be the biggest box-office success of 1950. Triumphs continued with Daag, Tarana and the big box-office superhit Deedar, in which he starred with his idol Ashok Kumar. He had played the role of blind lover brilliantly. 

Dilip Kumar once again tied the knock with Mehboob Khan in Aan. Aan not only smashed records in India but also broked all records in worldwide. Dilip Kumar left his contemporaries Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Bharat Bhooshan way behind with the terrific success of this film. 

However his career saw decline with the box-office failure of Hulchul, Shikast, Sangdil and Amar in middle of the decade but Dilip Kumar was once again back on the top of the star ladder with hits like Azaad, Uran Khatola, Insaniyat and Devdas. Devdas is probably the greatest performance ever given by a star . 

Success continued with super duper hits like Mughal-E-Azam, Gunga Jumna, Naya Daur Madhumati, Kohinoor , Paigaam and Yahudi . Mughal-E-Azam-Azam was announced in late 40s and was in making since 1952. Made at the whooping budget of 1.5 crore , the film went on to become the biggest hit till  before Sholay overtook it place. 

After Gunga Jumna success the thespian took a sabbatical break of 3 years. He made comeback with Leader and Dil Diya Dard Liya - both flopped at the box-office. Though nobody had expectations from Dil Diya Dard Liya as it was delayed project and Dilip Kumar was having alot of problem with thr director. That time Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor and Sunil Dutt were ruling the roast and Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor and Manoj Kumar were also emerging big . Dharmendra went on to become the top-most wanted superstar of late 1960s and 1970s.

He made a terrific comeback with Ram Aur Shyam which not only become the biggest box-office grosser of 1967 but also started the trend of dual roles films. Dilip Kumar essayed dual role for the first time and he succeeded big time. Film was a remake of superhit South film. 

Dilip Kumar entered the seventies with the thundering success of Gopi but it was followed by several box-office flops like Dastaan, Sagina and Bairaag. Due to flopping of these films many predict the end of the Indian Cinema's Demi-God Dilip Kumar. Dilip Kumar took a hiatus break of 5 years and then made comeback with Kranti. Dilip Kumar's Kranti showed his detractors the real stuff of India's greatest living legend!. 

Kranti marked the comeback of the original superstar of Indian Cinema Dilip Kumar. As the Dilip being perfectionist , he prepared for role. He essayed the title role of 'Krantikari' a freedom fighter .When he entered on the screen, he got all the taalis and sittis and his co-stars in the film become his shadows as he totally outclassed them! . Kranti made at the budget of 4 crores went on to gross 1.5 crores to 2 crores in all major circuits. Its box-office was so extraordinary that in some circuits, it even grossed more than India's biggest money spinner Sholay. Kranti was an instant super duper hit from the day it was announced and without a single doubt it was the biggest box-office smasher of 1981. However Kranti is the worst product that Manoj Kumar had ever produced but it was Dilip Kumar's terrific performance that made audience to stay throughout the film as it can be seen by the response in the theaters where the thespian Dilip Kumar got all the all laurels and applauds. 

Shakti in which he was pitted opposite his great calibre actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee. He did full justice to his role of a police officer. The critics and the public even thought that he has outclassed them in the film. However the film couldn't do as expected business mainly due to high distribution price but still it was a moderately successful film at the box-office doing hit business in some centres. 

And now comes Vidhaata in which the Mega superstar Dilip Kumar played the title role is celebrating silver jubilee all-over the country and it is the biggest box-office grosser of 1982 by a large distance. In Bombay, it has done record breaking business of 2.5 crores and 1.25 crores in rest parts of the India. Director Subhash Ghai is so thrilled that his film has not only become a mega blockbuster but also the biggest hit of previous year. Subhash feels that Dilip Kumar has single handedly carried this film on his shoulders. He rates Dilip Kumar as the God of Indian Cinema. 

With three two successive mega blockbusters and moderate success, the thespian is back undoubtedly. For more than 39 years in Industry, the thespian is still here to stay. The trade circles has ranked the thespian next only to the ruling superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Though the thespian is well past his prime but today Dilip films are fetching staggering price from distributors almost close to his rival films. THE THESPIAN HAS COME A LONG WAY!