Actor Dilip Kumar hospitalised for chest infection

Veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar was admitted to private-run Lilavati Hospital on Saturday. The 91-year-old legend was brought in to the facility around 7 pm after he developed fever, cough, body ache and breathlessness. He is being treated by Dr Jaleel Parkar for lung infections, said hospital sources.

Sources said that the yesteryear superstar was afflicted with a condition known as broncho pneumonia in both his lungs. The ailment involves acute inflammation of the walls of the bronchioles – the passageways by which air passes through the nose or mouth to the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs – apparently due to bacterial infection.

In a chest infection case as that of Dilip Kumar's, the air passage ways that deliver air to the lungs swell up causing the infection.

Dilip Kumar is being administered antibiotics to dilate the air passageways. At the time of going to print, sources said, he was doing well and was able to breathe normally. Last year in September, the thespian had suffered a heart attack and had later recovered well.

Known as the Tragedy King, Dilip Kumar was described as "the ultimate method actor" by world-renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray. He debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944 produced by Bombay Talkies.