'The golden trio': As Dilip Kumar leaves for heavenly abode, netizens remember his contemporaries and friends Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar died on Wednesday morning after prolonged illness, his family and doctors treating him said. He was 98.

Kumar, known to generations of film-goers as 'tragedy king', had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hinduja Hospital, a non-COVID-19 facility, since Tuesday.

When one speaks of Dilip Kumar, we are immediately reminded of Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor. These three were famously known as 'the golden trio'. They were three of the best actors that graced Hindi cinema and they will continue to inspire actors for generations to come.

The three of them commenced their acting careers in Hindi cinema around the same time in the 1940s. Also, they were the sons of the same soil. They all hailed from Punjab- Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor came from Peshawar, Punjab (now in Pakistan) and Dev Anand from Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Today, when the news of Dilip Kumar's death broke, it devastated Indians across the globe. As soon as Indians came to terms with the tragic news, they remembered the golden trio that now rests in peace. It perhaps brought fans some relief that the three legends of Hindi cinema are now resting together.

Many took to social media to express their feelings and honour the golden trio.

Have a look.