Birthday Special: Dilip Kumar's Top 25 Films

Dilip Kumar. The name evokes a myriad of images and every single one is iconic.

From his mischievous smile that rejoices in teasing his anxious leading lady to the pangs of pain in coping with the upheavals of his broken heart to his swaggering antics that could break the mightiest of tyrants, the visuals are delightfully endless.

At a time when acting was associated with theatrics and overstating, he changed the rules by underscoring the beauty of subtlety, texture and restraint with his nuanced performances that only fine-tuned with every passing feature becoming an acknowledged or subconscious inspiration for the likes of Rajendra Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.

And to think the legendary actor, born Mohammad Yusuf Sarwar Khan who made his acting debut at the age of 22 in Jwar Bhata never had any inclination to join films.

It wouldn't have been surprising if he had decided to discontinue either considering the caustic reception to his debut act -- 'an anemic addition to the roster of actors,' wrote Filmindia's Baburao Patel.

But the young Pathan persevered and found his groove, initially as a tragedian, in films like Jugnu, Mela and most memorably Devdas, before he realised the extent of his range as a intense romantic, unabashed comic, social rebel and angry senior citizen in the latter stages of his formidable career.

Although he hasn't done a film since the dismissive Qila, which released over a decade ago, the recipient of numerous awards and prestigious honors continues to be one of the most prized luminaries of Hindi cinema.

The leading man of classics like Mughal-E-Azam, Devdas, Madhumati, Ganga Jamuna and Ram Aur Shyam turns 90 today.

Here's celebrating this milestone birthday of our beloved screen idol through 25 of his glorious movies.

P:S: Considering he's made very few disappointing films in a career lasting over half a century, please know that almost everything that's left out falls under honorable mentions.

Jugnu (1947)

In 1947, India won Independence from the British and Dilip Kumar got his first taste of success with Jugnu.

Paired opposite songstress Noorjehan, Jugnu starts out as a breezy romance between a happy-go-lucky young man and its golden-hearted titular heroine before hitting an, unforeseen tragical conclusion, quite typical of scripts those days.

Long before Manoj Kumar discovered his calling as a patriotic figure in Shaheed, the first in the Bharat series, Dilip Saab made a lasting impression with his sensitive, sensible portrayal of a nationalist joining the 1942 Quit India Movement.

His pairing with Shaheed co-star Kamini Kaushal, whom he was romantically linked with, produced box-office success in films such as this, Nadiya Ke Paar, Arzoo and Shabnam.

Even though their chemistry wasn't as renowned as the famous Raj Kapoor-Nargis jodi, Dilip Kumar and she worked on quite a few unforgettable films.

In Mela, they play childhood sweethearts who spend most of the film apart owing to unfortunate circumstances.

But the moments that do come together are nothing short of celluloid magic.

In Mehboob Khan's terrific exploration of the thin line between friendships and relationships is delicately conveyed through the masterful troika of Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

But it's the grey areas conveyed in Dilip Saab's urges that truly elevate Andaaz from a glamorous love triangle to a stunning study in human psyche.

Matters of the heart continue to create irreversible anguish in Dilip Kumar's reel life following a series of misunderstandings and misfortune in the melodrama Babul.

Only his ability to ingeniously grab the tone of his character, complimented with equal fervor by Nargis and Naushad's lilting score adds to the film's repeat value.

It's a rather depressing storyline, Dilip Kumar plays a blind singer seeking out his childhood sweetheart only to unwittingly cause complications.

But you know what makes it work big time, right?

After giving him a break in Jwar Bhata, Amiya Chakraborty signed Dilip Kumar again to reiterate his tragedy king reputation as a toy seller turned hopeless alcoholic pining for, who else but, Paro.

His emphatic expression of despondency and inebriation in Daag earned the actor his first Filmfare trophy for Best Actor.

In the surprisingly underrated Foot Path, Dilip Kumar takes a break from lovelorn tales to reflect the desperation that comes from near penury.

He essays a journalist whose publication is down in the dumps and takes to black marketing and extortion until troubled by his own conscience, he resolves to confess his crime.

Dilip Kumar slips into flamboyant costumes and swashbuckling avatar to play a commoner in love with a haughty princess in Mehboob Khan's lavish entertainer, Aan.

But it's his torrid chemistry with the unlikely leading lady Nadira in this desi Taming of the Shrew that hits the screen with spark and sizzle.

After a series of distressing roles developing a growing obsession with sadness, the actor was advised to take on some light-hearted fare.

And Azaad, a remake of Tamil hit Malai Kallan, proved to be both therapeutic and rewarding.

His exuberant antics/disguises along with his counterpart in tragic roles, Meena Kumari, also in complete form, lend Azaad an air of wholesome cheerfulness.

In BR Chopra's triumph of spirit saga involving tangas taking on machines, Dilip Kumar plays the challenge-accepting hero with characteristic grace, aplomb and conviction.

The other tracks -- his soured friendship, strained romance and struggle to succeed against giant odds -- strive to showcase the versatile range of this powerhouse performer.

Apart from its incredible songs menu and Dilip Kumar's eye-catching wig, Yahudi is a nifty account of what ensues after a Roman prince (Kumar) falls for a Jewish girl (Meena Kumari).

Often costume dramas, especially when an actor plays another nationality, draw a lot of flak for their unrealistic, over-the-top depiction but Bimal Roy's understated touch brings out the genuine in both of his exceptionally gifted stars.

There's nothing better than a favorable combination.

Like the one between Bimal Roy and Dilip Kumar. They collaborated on several films and hit the peak of their connection with Madhumati.

Madhumati's intricate web of reincarnation, suspense and thrill against a traditional romantic setup between Dilip Saab and Vyjayanthimala, treated with gorgeous cinematography and exquisite songs, continues to inspire Bollywood to this date.

Om Shanti Om, anyone?

In this Bollywood-size fairy tale of prince, princess and evil ministers conspiring to spoil their chances of a happily-ever-after, Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari team up to embody a enviable marriage of brains with beauty.

As an aside, the perfectionist Dilip Saab learned to play amateur sitar before he began filming.

You can notice his grasp at the stringed instrument in the ever-melliflous Madhuban mein Radhika.

A film to match let alone surpass K Asif's grand vision and resplendent construction is yet to come.

After taking ten good years to finish, Mughal-E-Azam, even after fifty years and a re-released coloured print, continues to draw reactions in superlatives.

But this apparent scale, unlimited opulence gets its epic soul from Dilip Kumar's suave, subtle Salim, bewitching Madhubala and dramatic Prithviraj Kapoor.

HS Rawail's adaptation of Mahasweta Devi's story boasts of a stellar cast -- Dilip Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Sanjeev Kumar, Vyajyanthimala, Jayant and writing credits like Abrar Alvi and Gulzar and is set against the thug culture of 19th century Varanasi.

The delicately woven plot and taut narrative accompanied by some seriously strong performances from the stalwarts of natural acting make Sungharsh immensely absorbing.

Subhash Ghai's version of Sholay has Dilip Kumar setting up his own army of well-meaning convicts to avenge Dr Dang's brutal slaughter of his loved ones.

Playing it sharp, aloof, enigmatic, persuasive and always effective, it's his enormous gravity that lends Karma its real balance from Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Naseeruddin Shah's obvious camaraderie.

In true Subhash Ghai style, Saudagar aims to be a larger-than-life coming together of two heavyweights -- Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar playing the proverbial friends turned foes.

But despite the contrived plot and ostentatious caricatures, the paisa vasool factor lies in the Paigham duo's war of words, egos, and screen space and, boy, do they play to the gallery?