Sharmila Tagore Remembers The Late Dilip Kumar: 'He Was Such A Learned Man And So Dignified'- EXCLUSIVE

The iconic diva Sharmila Tagore got to work only once with the great Dilip Kumar. It was a film called Dastaan in 1972 directed by B R  Chopra. A critical and commercial disaster. It was the first time that Sharmila Tagore worked with Dilip Kumar. “I had worked with B R Chopra before in one of my earliest Hindi films Waqt. This was my second film with them. They were delightfully professional and organized. With Dilip Saab, this was my first film. I think he had done a  very popular film Naya Daur with the same banner before. Somehow we never had an opportunity to work together before.”

Knowing the Thespian had a double role, and that she had little to do in the script, Sharmila agreed to be part of Dastaan. She says, “It doesn’t matter that Dastaan didn’t work. I enjoyed the experience of working with Dilip  Saab thoroughly. It was interesting to watch him at work. His approach to his characters—he had a double role in Dastaan—was unlike anything I had seen. He was such a learned man and so dignified,” says Sharmilaji who has worked with almost every major star of 1950, the 60s and 70s. However, she did only one film with Dilip Kumar (Dilip Kumar) and Dev Anand (Yeh Gulistan Hamara). ALSO READ: Sharmila Tagore On Shashikala: 'I Wish Hindi Cinema Had Not Typecast Her. But Then That’s The Way It Is'

She reiterates that her association with Dilip  Kumar went far beyond Dastaan. “We were family friends. I met Dilip Saab’s sisters and his brother Ehsan socially. There was  always bonding with his family.” Any regrets that she did not get to work more with Dilip Kumar? Sharmilaji replies gently. “I’ve no regrets about anything that happened or didn’t happen in my career. I never planned anything. Whatever happened, happened on its own. I’ve never  paused to regret anything.” ALSO READ: “We Must Not Mourn Dilip Saab, We Must Celebrate Him,” Shabana Azmi On Dilip Kumar - EXCLUSIVE