What was the real birth name of the legendary Indian film actor known to audiences as Dilip Kumar?

Introduction / Context:
Many film stars adopt screen names that differ from their birth names, and these details often appear in general knowledge questions. Dilip Kumar is one of the most respected actors in Indian cinema history, particularly in Hindi films. This question tests whether you can recall his original birth name, which is frequently asked in examinations that cover film personalities and Indian culture.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The popular screen name is Dilip Kumar.
• The question asks specifically for his real birth name.
• Options include Yusuf Khan, Dilip Kumar, Mohammad Kaif, Ravi Bajaj, and Rajendra Kumar.
• Exactly one option represents the name he was born with and used before adopting his film name.

Concept / Approach:
Dilip Kumar, who became famous for his intense performances and is often called the Tragedy King, was born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan. When he entered the film industry, he adopted the screen name Dilip Kumar on the advice of producers for better acceptance in the market. Therefore, Yusuf Khan is the correct underlying birth name among the options. The other names are either the screen name itself or belong to different individuals, not to this actor original identity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is contrasting the screen name Dilip Kumar with his real, original name. Step 2: Recall that biographies of Dilip Kumar consistently mention Muhammad Yusuf Khan as his birth name. Step 3: Look at the options and find Yusuf Khan, which directly matches the remembered real name. Step 4: Note that Dilip Kumar is his adopted screen identity, not the answer to the question as it is framed. Step 5: Confirm that the other names in the list refer to unrelated people and select Yusuf Khan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling award ceremonies and interviews in which his full name is mentioned or by checking standard film encyclopedias and GK books. They clearly state that Dilip Kumar was born as Muhammad Yusuf Khan in Peshawar. The screen name Dilip Kumar appears on film credits but not as his birth record. The options Mohammad Kaif and Rajendra Kumar refer to a cricketer and another actor respectively, while Ravi Bajaj does not correspond to his identity. These facts confirm Yusuf Khan as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dilip Kumar is incorrect here because the question is not asking what film name he used but what his original name was. Mohammad Kaif is a former Indian cricketer and has no connection to this actor persona. Ravi Bajaj is not associated with this cinema legend in GK literature. Rajendra Kumar was a different Hindi film star altogether, sometimes a co actor of Dilip Kumar but not the same person. Hence, these alternatives serve only as distractors.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to answer mechanically with the most familiar name, Dilip Kumar, without reading the phrase real name or birth name carefully. Another pitfall is mixing up different film stars whose careers overlapped, such as Rajendra Kumar and Dilip Kumar, or confusing cricketers and actors due to shared first names like Mohammad. Training yourself to read each question slowly and highlight words like real name, screen name, original name, or pen name will reduce such errors significantly.

Final Answer:
The real birth name of the actor known as Dilip Kumar was Yusuf Khan.