Urmila Matondkar slams BJP leader for his remarks on Dilip Kumar
Mumbai, Jul 7: Actor-politician Urmila Matondkar has criticised BJP politician Arun Yadav after he claimed that screen icon Dilip Kumar, who passed away on Wednesday, used a Hindu name to earn money as an actor.
One of India's finest actors who ruled the hearts of generations, Kumar was born Mohammed Yousuf Khan on December 11, 1922 in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Devika Rani, who was the head of the Bombay Talkies where he joined as an actor, rechristened him as Dilip Kumar.
Kumar, who died at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday morning after prolonged illness at the age of 98, was remembered by many on social media who called his demise an irreparable loss to Indian cinema.
Haryana BJP IT cell and social media head Arun Yadav courted controversy with his condolence message.
"The death of Mohammad Yusuf Khan (Dilip Kumar), who earned money by keeping a Hindu name in the film world, is an irreparable loss to the Indian film industry! Deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Hope God gives peace to the departed soul," Yadav wrote in Hindi.
Reacting strongly to his tweet, Matondkar expressed her anguish as she wrote "Shame on you", with a thumbs down emoji.
The 47-year-old actor-politician said it is saddening to see someone "trivialising" Kumar's critically-acclaimed body of work.
"It is sad to see that a legend of our country is being trivialised by saying that he kept a Hindu name to earn money. One needs to show dignity and class. He has done so many socially relevant films," Matondkar told PTI.
The Shiv Sena leader further said that Kumar was a "socially responsible person".
"He helped the widows of soldiers who lost their lives in Kargil war and did innumerable amount of social work," Matondkar said.
The actor slammed Yadav for his "double standards" as she said that he made the remark in the garb of offering his condolences.
"It is because of this particular thinking of these people that there are many people who think it is fine to create a constant communal division and whitewash it.
"Shame on a thinking like this. He (Yadav) needs to grow up. He needs to get the information correct," Matondkar added.
She said Kumar was someone who was "beyond any religion".
"There are so many Muslims who have taken Hindu names and vice versa but does it make us less? The fact should be how much of an Indian you are. He (Dilip Kumar) was indeed one," Matondkar added.
Yadav's tweet also drew criticism from other Twitter users who called out the politician for his remarks.
"Shame... How can you post something like this on someone's death. What is the problem if a Muslim has a Hindu name? And if a Hindu has a Muslim name, then also there is a problem. Please grow up and be a good human being, you will feel good," a social media user wrote.
Another user said Kumar's contribution to Indian films trumps all such comments made in poor taste.
"... Yusuf Khan aka Dilip Kumar made India known and famous through the whole world (sic)," a tweet noted.
Kumar, known to generations of film-goers as 'tragedy king' for his portrayal of the brooding, intense romantic, starred in classics such as "Mughal-e-Azam" and "Devdas". Also called the Nehruvian hero, he made his acting debut with "Jwar Bhata" in 1944.
In his five-decade career he worked in 65 films which included titles like "Naya Daur", "Madhumati" and "Ram Aur Shyam" in which he starred as the leading man.
In his twilight years, he graduated to character roles in films like "Shakti" and "Karma". His last on-screen appearance was his last "Qila" in 1998.
Shame on you ?
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) July 7, 2021
Shame..
— Ritika Sanwal (Pahadan) ? #Uttarakhandi (@infiniteflames2) July 7, 2021
How can you post something like this on someone's death.
Agar koi muslim hindu name rkh de toh dikkat , agar koi hindu muslim name rkh de toh dikkat.
Janab in sab se upar uth ke insan ban ke dekhiye acha lagega ?
Really earn money in the name of hindu and what about because of his performance india was know to be a country where a brillant actor Existed like Dilip Kumar….. Yusuf Khan Aka Dilip Kumar made India known and famous through the whole world…
— BeingMuslim (@DarknessEvil10) July 7, 2021
There were many Muslim actors at that time who had Hindu screen names like Ajit and Jeevan.
— Lav Bhargava (@lavbhargava) July 7, 2021
Did that take away from their talent or the legendary and successfull status of Dilip kumar?
It was not the Hindu name that made him so successful bit his talent
Kindly note M.Bhagwat ji
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Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren passes away at 62
Ranchi, Aug 15 (PTI): Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren died on Friday, JMM national spokesperson Kunal Sarangi said.
He was 62.
Soren was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Delhi, where he was admitted on August 2.
"State Education Minister Ramdas Soren, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi, is no more," Sarangi told PTI.
Soren's condition was critical and he was on life support, Sarangi said.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader was airlifted to the hospital in the national capital from Jamshedpur after he fell in the bathroom of his residence on August 2.
A multidisciplinary team of senior specialists was closely monitoring his condition and providing intensive medical care.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled his death.
Hemant Soren, in a post on X, wrote, "Ramdas Da (brother) should not have left us like this. Last greetings to Dada..."
Ramdas Soren, born in Ghorabandha village in East Singhbhum district on January 1, 1963, began his political journey as the gram pradhan of the Ghorabanda panchayat, eventually rising to become one of the most influential ministers in the Hemant Soren-led cabinet.
He won the Ghatshila assembly seat for the third time in 2024 by defeating BJP's Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren.
ऐसे छोड़ कर नहीं जाना था रामदास दा...
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 15, 2025
अंतिम जोहार दादा... pic.twitter.com/5cKZkpIe9Z
