When Dilip Kumar claimed Mughal-E-Azam director asked Madhubala to seduce him: 'K Asif was aware of Madhu's feelings for me...'
Dilip Kumar
and
Madhubala
fell in love while working on Tarana, and were later cast together in
Mughal-E-Azam
. In his autobiography, Dilip revealed that director
K Asif
, though thrilled with the buzz around the film, tried to meddle in their relationship—going so far as to advise Madhubala on how to get Dilip to commit.
K Asif's Unusual Interference in a Legendary Love Story
In Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow, the legendary actor recalled how rumours about his relationship with Madhubala were already swirling in the early 1950s, which made the announcement of Mughal-E-Azam even more sensational. He noted that director K Asif, who knew about Madhubala's feelings for him and understood his cautious nature when it came to personal decisions, began interfering in their relationship. According to Dilip, Asif took it upon himself to push Madhubala towards securing a commitment from him—going so far as to advise her that the way to win him over was through physical intimacy.
In retrospect, Dilip Kumar recognised that K Asif's actions stemmed from a director's desire to enhance on-screen chemistry between two actors who shared a real-life emotional connection. He believed Asif did what many self-serving filmmakers might have done in a similar situation—prioritising his film's impact over personal boundaries. Dilip also noted that once his relationship with Madhubala began to deteriorate, Asif made attempts to mend the situation between them.
A Role Reconsidered: Why Dilip Wasn't First Choice for Salim
Dilip Kumar also revealed that K Asif was initially hesitant to cast him as
Prince Salim
in Mughal-E-Azam because he felt Dilip looked too young for the part. Asif had begun developing the film in 1948 and, while he admired Dilip's regal presence, he believed the role required someone with a more mature appearance. Dilip agreed with Asif's assessment at the time. Actor DK Sapru was cast instead, but the early version of the film was shelved due to financial difficulties.
Creating Salim Without a Director's Guidance
A few years later, after Dilip Kumar had become a much bigger star, K Asif approached him again for Mughal-E-Azam. This time, Dilip was aware that he would have to rely on his own instincts to shape the character of Prince Salim, as he didn't expect much guidance from Asif. The director was preoccupied with the film's many challenges and offered little direction, telling Dilip to simply be himself. Despite the lack of support, Dilip managed to craft a screen persona that closely matched the regal image he had envisioned for Salim.
Mughal-E-Azam remains one of the most iconic and celebrated films in the history of Hindi cinema. However, behind its grandeur lay personal turmoil — during the film's long and demanding production, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala's once passionate relationship came to an end.
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