Dilip Kumar hospitalised; next 72 hours crucial

Mumbai, Apr 16: Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, who has been admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra for respiratory problems early today, is under observation with doctors attending on him stating that the next 72 hours are crucial.

"The next 72 hours are crucial. He is under observation. We are keeping a close watch. He might have to be shifted to the ICU," Dr Jalil Parker of Lilavati Hospital told PTI.

The 93-year-old cinema legend was hospitalised around 2 AM, sources said. Asked to comment on Kumar's present condition, Parker said, "It takes time for a patient to respond to the treatment in the same way as it takes three hours for the food to digest." However, family sources maintained that there is nothing to worry. "He is normal.

He is fine. There is nothing like that," they said, when asked whether Kumar was in a serious condition. Earlier, Parker said that Kumar had fever and had vomited a few times.

"He was suffering from pneumonia as well. His white blood cells had shot up. We thought it would be better to admit him to hospital." The thespian was born as Mohammad Yusuf Khan but adopted the screen name of Dilip Kumar.

In a career spanning over six decades, the actor gave hits like "Madhumati", "Devdas", "Mughal-e-Azam", "Ganga Jamuna", "Ram Aur Shyam", "Karma" and others. He was crowned as the 'Tragedy King' for playing a doomed lover in films like "Andaz", "Baabul", "Mela", "Deedar", "Jogan" and others.

He was last seen in the film "Qila" in 1998. Kumar was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2015. Earlier, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

PTI