It was truly an overwhelming feeling for actor Zayn Ibad Khan recently when Gul Khan, the producer of his show Aashiqana, compared his performance to that of legendary actor Dilip Kumar.

Talking about the incident, he says, “This is a really big thing for me because I’m Dilip Kumar Sahab’s huge fan. I have grown up watching his movies because my dad used to love his movies and he always used to say that, ‘Beta Dilip Sahab ki movie dekha karo. Unse Sikho’. Dilp sahab didn’t do method acting in just one movie. He was often called “method kumar” and was the first method actor of  Hindi Cinema. His style was unique and  was the only one who was doing method acting in the late 1940’s.  Acting used to be loud sometimes but still he managed to do that with grace. It’s impossible to replicate his legacy, the work he has done is amazing.”

He adds, “When someone as significant as the creator of the show, is saying that you resemble him in one of the scenes, it’s a lot to process. My first reaction was, ‘What she just say to me?’ Because it’s a huge thing for me. Dilip Sahab is my idol and for all of us, I guess. In our Hindi cinema when someone becomes an actor, according to me, Dilip Kumar Sahab’s name comes first in the mind. And when ma’am told me that I resembled him in one of my shots, it was overwhelming and I just can’t explain what I felt in words. I know it’s a huge responsibility on me to do justice to these words now.”

Zayn has always been a huge fan of Dilip Kumar. “I have watched all his movies and Andaz (1949) is my favourite movie. I have learnt a lot from it. Also, I love Saudagar and Ram aur Shyam,” he says.

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