Mumbai: The fascinating story of the living legend Dilip Kumar couldn’t have got better. The veteran actor and superstar has revealed his life and journey to stardom in an autobiography, which is soon to be launched, coinciding most appropriately, with the celebrations of 100 years of Indian Cinema this year.

In the first narration, as told to veteran film journalist Uday Tarra Nayar, Dilip Kumar traces a long journey he undertook more than eight decades ago as playful child Yusuf Khan from Peshawar, his acting career in Bombay now Mumbai and his attaining a stature in Hindi cinema, which critics agree, that no actor has ever reached.

The book chronicles many major achievements and failures of the actor, and the trajectory of his life thus far. the book recreates the Pathan neighborhood of the actor’s childhood with illustrations and offers rare photographs of his family, the celebrated couple Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, their friends and most importantly, his many memorable films the coffee table book is being prepared under the supervision of Saira Banu and is being published jointly by her entertainment enterprise Sharp Focus and New Media.

Speaking about the book, Saira Banu said, "So many writers have approached Dilip Sahab and me for writing this book. We chose Uday Tarra because she is a family member and Sahab has known her for a very long time as a film journalist and former editor of Screen. Her uncle S. S Pillai, the veteran editor of Screen was very close to us and he was a very respected journalist with whom Sahab shared a fine rapport. Tarra writes well and with a feeling of deep respect which can only come from someone who loves us not for who we are but for what we are.”

New Media’s Managing Editor and Publisher Satya Swaroop said, “We are proud to be associated with this venture of bringing out a coffee table book on the Indian and Hindi cinema’s greatest actor. We convey our thanks to the legendary couple Sairaji and Dilip Sahab for giving us this opportunity.” the rare and intimate autobiography will be made available through book stores across the country and online soon after its launch, Swaroop added.