Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand are the three names that are still often taken together; kudos to their legendary friendship. The three OGs of the Indian film fraternity were contemporaries, the biggest stars of their era and "the golden trio" of Indian cinema. The stories of their friendship are like a legacy that their family, colleagues and close friends have shared and carried through the ages.
Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor the trio, came from the pre-Partition, Punjab region of India. While Dilip and Raj were initially neighbours in Peshawar, now in Pakistan, Dev Anand was born in Gurdaspur. Dilip and Raj not only grew up as friends but were also schoolmates.
However, the trio started their careers as actors within a few years of one another. Raj and Dilip were also co-stars of the 1949 movie Andaz, which brought them immense fame and critical acclaim. Dev Anand worked with Dilip Kumar in the 1955 action film, Insaniyat. The trio had an illustrious career as actors, while Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand enjoyed their stints as filmmakers as well.
Raj Kapoor's younger son, Rishi Kapoor, once reflected on the time when Dilip Kumar would visit his father at their home. Talking about their friendship, Rishi shared that Raj and Dilip's friendship was eternal. He added that it was like a celebration whenever the duo got together, and since they also shared their love for food, Rishi's mother, Krishna Kapoor, would be scurrying around preparing food for them. Rishi Kapoor revealed that his father, Raj, would get excited like a little child whenever Dilip was to visit him.
Waheeda Rehman shared that she had the luxury of working with each of the golden trio in different films. She recalled even though the three of them were the best of friends, they had extremely different personalities. She revealed that while Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar had outspoken personalities and would discuss random theories during breaks, Dev Anand was a quiet soul. Waheeda recalled her love for photography and shared how even there Dilip and Raj were stark opposites. She revealed:
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"I'd carry the camera around my neck even when in full costume to take random shots of my co-actors. Dilip Sahab would chide me and say, 'Itne aache kapdey pehen kar kya ladko ki tarha camera lekar ghoomti rehti ho.' On the other hand Raj Sahab was game. I was taking pictures while on the flight to Moscow when he suggested, 'Go that side and take photos, the light is better there.'"
Dilip Kumar had once shared that when he, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor started in the film industry, they shared decent professional ethics and had a certain unspoken set of rules right from the beginning. He recalled that although nothing was in writing, they shared a silent regard for each other. Dilip also revealed that they would meet often to discuss each other's work. He also reminisced about the humourous times when Raj Kapoor would imitate him and Dev. The trio had made it a point to be there for each other throughout their lives and were true to their word till their dying breath.
Dilip Kumar's wife, Saira Banu, shared a post on the occasion of Raj Kapoor's 100th birthday and recalled the notorious bond the duo shared. She revealed Raj Kapoor would playfully urge Dilip to get married and would say that he would walk to the latter on his knees the day he does. Saira shared that when Dilip finally married her, Raj kept his word and knelt before and laughed:
"See, I told you! Thank you for finally letting me do this."
Saira Banu revealed that when years later, Raj Kapoor was on his deathbed after a cardiac arrest. Dilip was abroad and had rushed back after hearing the news. She revealed that Dilip was heartbroken by his friend's passing. Saira recalled Dilip's words to his friend's lifeless body, she penned how their love had filled the entire room with the pain Dilip felt as he whispered to his friend:
"Raj, wake up! I’ve brought the ‘khushboo’ of Chapli Kebabs. Let’s walk through the bazaar like we used to, eating kebabs, laughing, and reminiscing. Bas ab acting mat kar; take me back to Peshawar."
The golden trio made an everlasting impression on the Indian film fraternity with their work and their friendship. However, as we know, all good things come to an end, and so did the Trimurti, with the passing of Raj Kapoor at the age of 63 in 1988. Dev Anand left behind a legendary legacy after he died in 2011. On July 7, 2021, the last of the golden trio bid adieu as Dilip Kumar died at the age of 98.
What are your thoughts on Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar's epic friendship?
Next Read: Meet Hollywood's Raj Kapoor, Who Worked With Michael Jackson, Oscars Showman, Emmy Award-Winner
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