EK SHAHENSHAH KI TAAREEF KOI TAJ SE KUM THODI NA HOTA HAI ?

The grace and greatness of a truly talented man or woman is that it doesn't fail to respect and honour the talent of others who are as or even more talented than them , but are condemned to be in the shade or shadow of to he ones who have been fortunate to have their talent recognised and respectful at the right time - Ali Peter John

And if there is one man who has not failed to recognise and compliment true talent , it is the emperor of acting , Dilip Kumar who has been ruling on the basis of his talent for more than six decades .

He has worked with any number of talented actors and has always acknowledged the talent of other actors.

Dilip Kumar is perhaps the only legendary actor who has not held back his respect for actors who have made a distinct impact on him and his sensitivity .

He has gone on record to say that he was always in awe of character actors like Leela Mishra and Khanhaiylaal .

In a talk with me a long time ago he had said that whenever he had to do a scene with Leela Mishra , he had to be extra careful and prepare for the scene " because you never knew how and when she could outwit and outsmart you .

She is without any doubt one of the best actresses we have , but an actress with a bad luck or destiny or call it what you may .

I have worked with some very big leading ladies , but she continues to be the best and I hope these big stars take a lesson or two from her to improve their skills as actresses ."

The Shahenshah was an admirer of another character actor called Khanhaiylaal who he called " a God - gifted actor who can make mincemeat of the best of actors with his simple , honest and sincere talent to bring characters alive .

I an sure , he would have been a big actor in the big league if he had shown his talent in Hollywood or any other place" .

The fact that Dilip Kumar made it a point to have Khanhaiylaal in three of his important films , "Ram Aur Shyam", "Gopi" and "Ganga Jamuna" speaks volumes for his respect for Khanhaiylaal .

In 1983 , Dilip Kumar had heard a lot about a new actor and his performance in "Saaransh ". That actor was Anupam Kher.

The legend saw the film at the preview theatre of the Rajshris who had produced the film .

He was so carried away by this new actor and his performance that he talked about him to all those he met anywhere .

He had asked me to arrange a meeting with the actor , Anupam' Kher and told him that he would be a leading actor one day , provided he didn't do hundreds of films at the same time and didn't do films only to make money.

Kher must have listened to the legend's advice , but what he has been doing a last thirty odd years is completely contrary to what the legend had advised him and the results he will not know so soon , but only when the glamour of fame and fortune dies down .

In fact , the legend was so impressed with Kher that he together with Raj Kapoor praised him to his face at a grand party hosted by Subhash' Ghai to announce his most ambitious film with Amitabh Bachchan "Devaa"".

And Anupam' was so thrilled that he got drunk and danced on the table and looked a funny sight with his sherwaani and kurta . He had to be taken home by his wife Kiran after that grand performance .

The legend had worked with Smita Patil for the first time in Ramesh Sippy's " Shakti" . Amitabh and Raakhee were also in the cast , but the legend was all praise for Smita and told his wife , Saira Banu and other well-known actresses to take lessons in good and natural acting from Smita and when Smita heard what legend had to say about her , she touched the feet of the legend and said that his words of encouragement gave her a new lease of life , but this lease was not going to help her as she soon died after a mysterious ailment .

Dilip Kumar was the Chairman of the first jurry of the Screen Awards and when he saw a film called "Krantiveer" , he asked for a second screening only to watch the performance of Nana Patekar and after the second screeming , he held his face in his hands and said , " even if I am gone thrice , I would never be able to do what that boy has done in the film . We don't have to have nomination for the best actor award .

It will be number one to five, all nominations in fevour of Nana " . And that is how Nana got his first Screen Award for the best actor for his fiery performance in " Krantiveer"

Interestingly , the legend was also an admirer of Lalitha Pawar who played his mother in some films , but he said , he found it very difficult to shoot with her and other actresses he worked with , but he had one complaint against them , " they all stink " he said .

There have been many actors and actresses who have tried to get into the good books of the legend , but I think one has to be extra lucky to find a way to his heart and mind .

SIRF KOSHISH KARNE SE KOI DILIP KUMAR NA BANA HAI NA BANEGA. AUR DILIP KUMAR KA AASHIRWAAD PAANA KOI AASAN KAAM NAHI HAI, NA HOGA .

HAZAARON SAAL MEIN EK DILIP KUMAR AATA HAI AUR PHIR KHUDAH HI BHOOL JAATA HAI KI USNE DILIP KUMAR KO KAISE BANAAYA