End of a Bollywood era: Legendary actor Dilip Kumar passes away

Eminent Indian actor Dilip Kumar passed away this morning at the age of 98.

Jalil Parkar, the pulmonologist treating the actor at Mumbai's P D Hinduja Hospital confirmed the news to media, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

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Dilip Kumar, whose real name was Yusuf Khan, was taken to the hospital early today after he complained of breathlessness.

"He passed away due to prolonged illness at 7:30am (local time)," Parkar said.

"With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip Saab a few minutes ago," Dilip Kumar's friend Faisal Farooqui tweeted from the actor's official account.

"We are from God and to Him we return," he added.

Dilip Kumar, who would have been 99 in December, is survived by his wife, actress Saira Banu.

He was also taken to hospital on June 6 and was put on oxygen support and discharged on June 11.

The actor had been in and out of hospital over the last few years with illnesses ranging from kidney ailment to pneumonia. The actor had spent his 94th birthday in hospital where he was being treated for fever and a swollen leg.