It was by a beautiful coincidence that I once met Dilip Kumar on the eve of Eid. His bungalow on Pali Hill (Mumbai) was bustling with preparations for the festivity. Dilip Saab’s wife the gracious and elegant Saira Banu was supervising all the preparations while making sure I was comfortable.

Dilip Saab was in a festive but meditative mood. “Eid is no longer the same. There is so much divisive politics all around us. It kills me to see mankind being slaughtered in the guise of religion. Those who indulge in communal violence are neither Hindi nor Muslim. They practice  a religion of their own, far removed from civil society.”

And yet all was not lost for Dilip Saab, “The spirit of oneness is all around me. Aap hamari industry ko le lijiye misaal ke taur par. We are all bonded by the spirit of creativity. No one questions any actor’ religious identity. When I  started(as an actor) I was advised to change my name from Yusuf Khan to Dilip Kumar to feel like a part of the mainstream. Today, I am proud to see the Khans ruling the roost.”

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Yusuf Saab was happy on Eid that Shah Rukh Khan was expected to visit. “Saira and I treat him like the son we never had. Shah Rukh feels he resembles me. I am not too sure of that. But if it makes him happy to  think that way, I am happy.”