14/06/2026
'Tragedy King' Dilip Kumar was deeply impressed by Sanjeev Kumar's natural and powerful acting on the sets of the 1968 film 'Sangharsh'. He was so astonished by Sanjeev Kumar's talent and perfection that he asked the director - "Who is this old man you have cast?"
Once, after a very intense scene, there was a lunch break. During lunch, Dilip Kumar asked director H.S. Rawail, "Where did you find that old man? He's a great actor." The director laughed out loud and told him that Sanjeev Kumar was only 29 years old and it was all due to his make-up and acting skills.
Sanjeev Kumar played the role of Dwarka Prasad in this film. In one scene, Sanjeev Kumar dies in Dilip Kumar's lap. After performing this scene, Dilip Kumar himself praised him, saying, "This boy is a wonderful actor."
Sanjeev Kumar was known in the industry for his versatility and depth. Dilip Kumar himself was so impressed by Sanjeev Kumar's acting that he would often say in praise, "This Gujarati boy made me sweat.
The film featured a silent high-stakes game of chess between Dilip Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar. Sanjeev Kumar's performance in that scene was so brilliant that not a single retake was required and he made a powerful presence in the scene.
After working with Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar became one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema.
