Hyderabad, July 8 -- Mohammed Wajihuddin

The massive auditorium at Mumbai's Nehru Centre was packed. The annual mushaira which had an impressive list of participating poets, including Ahmed Faraz from Pakistan, was yet to start. Poetry recitations could wait as the legendary Dilip Kumar (Yusuf Khan) was invited to speak.

Clad in his trademark spotless white shirt and pant, the thespian reached the podium amidst loud clapping. Speaking in chaste Urdu, Dilip Kumar recounted an incident to underline the decline of Urdu, especially in Uttar Pradesh. He said he was aboard a flight to Lucknow to attend a programme. His host was a young man from a very illustrious Muslim family in UP. Since the young man was seated a few rows behind Dilip Kuma...