Dilip Kumar(1922-2021)

Declined the role of Sherif Ali in David Lean's 'Lawrence of Arabia', ultimately played by Egyptian star Omar Sharif. Sharif was offered the role of Tafas who is ironically shot by Sherif Ali in his introductory desert sequence. Omar Sharif got catapulted into the world scene with this role, going on to further collaborate with David Lean in another epic 'Doctor Zhivago' (this time in the lead role).

Am overwhelmed by the affection shown by the people over the years. But to be very frank, I have been outdone by actors like my seniors M.G.Ramachandran and Pran and then by Sivaji Ganesan, Sanjeev Kumar and Rajesh Khanna who were much more versatile than me as actors. Their number of films and the various characters they have done are much more than that of mine.