Dilip Kumar was laid to rest at the Santacruz qabrastan this evening (7th July). He had passed away early today morning at Hinduja Hospital, Khar, Bombay. The screen wonder was given a farewell with full state honours. His body was wrapped in the Indian tricolour and the marching band performed at his Pali Hill residence at Bandra, Bombay before his mortal remains were led to the crematorium. The bier was lifted by nephews Rehan, actor Ayub Khan, Imran and Saqib, and friend Faisal Farooqui. Although only 20 people were permitted inside the qabrastan due to COVID-19 protocols, a sea of humanity comprising the 98-year-old screen legend’s fans stood on the roads leading to the crematorium to mourn his demise.
Dilip Kumar’s health had given the world many a tense moment during the last five years but yet, people had hoped that he would live to hit a century. However, that was not to be. Stars visited Dilip Kumar’s bungalow to pay their last respects or offer condolences to his inconsolable wife, Saira Banu, who looked after him in an exemplary manner right through his difficult years. The stream of visitors included Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Dharmendra, Shah Rukh Khan, Shabana Azmi, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vidya Balan, Subhash Ghai and Ranbir Kapoor. Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan paid their last respects at the qabrastan.
Countless people tweeted their condolences and they included such big names as president Ram Nath Kovind, prime minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and South superstars Mammootty and Chiranjeevi.