'I owe my career to him'

Kader Khan, actor

There has never been an Indian artiste like him.

Actors copy his smile, the way he speaks, and will continue to do so. His contribution to India will never be equalled by any other artiste. He is an institution and we are all students of that institution.

Till this industry is alive, Dilip Kumar, the institution, will remain.

Dilip Kumar picked me up from the stage and brought me into films. The film was Bairaag. I was acting in a play called Taash ke patte, which had received rave reviews.

One day, I received a call from Dilip Kumar at the college where I used to teach civil engineering. He told me that he had heard a lot about my work and wanted to see my play. I was thrilled, of course. He asked me to meet him at Rajkamal Studios. That is how I entered a studio for the first time in my life.

After he saw my play, he announced, "Here is a good actor who has not been utilised. I am giving him a role in my film Bairaag. He signed me on. After that, I did Adaalat. So it was through Dilip Kumar that I came into film acting. I owe my career to him.

I pray that life keeps him well.