Dilip Kumar, the veteran Hindi actor, who has been admitted to the intensive care unit of Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital, is stable but still in ICU, his wife and former actor Saira Banu confirmed to ANI on Saturday.
According to the report, Banu said that although Kumar’s health is stable, he will not be discharged yet. “We want to take him home, but we are waiting for doctors’ approval. As soon as doctors allow, we will take him home. He will not be discharged today. Need prayers of his fans,” she added.
The 98-year-old actor was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital, a non-Covid-19 facility, on Wednesday after he complained of breathlessness. A family friend, Faisal Farooqui, had put out an update on the actor’s Twitter profile clarifying that he was admitted to address medical issues related to old age.
Farooqui also told PTI on Friday that “the family believes he will be discharged in a day or two.”
Last month, Kumar had been admitted to the same hospital after suffering breathlessness. He was discharged after being diagnosed and treated for bilateral pleural effusion — a build-up of excess fluid between the tissues that line the lungs and chest. Following the actor’s hospitalisation, rumours started doing the rounds that Kumar had died. Refuting the rumours, Banu had issued a clarification on Twitter.
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Kumar has been unwell for the past few years. Earlier in May, he was admitted to a hospital for routine check-up.
Recently, he lost two of his brothers, Aslam Khan and Ahsan Khan, to Covid-19.
In his three-decade-long career, Kumar has acted in over 65 films. He is known for his iconic roles in films like Devdas, Naya Daur, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jamuna, Kranti and Karma. He was last seen in Qila in 1998. Since then, his advanced age and deteriorating health have prevented him from taking on more roles.