New Delhi: The untimely loss of veteran Bollywood actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar has sent shockwaves across the nation. Known affectionately as “Bharat Kumar,” Kumar was a stalwart of patriotic cinema, with films like Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti etched in the hearts of Indians. His passing at the age of 87 due to heart-related complications has not only left fans bereaved but has also caught the attention of top political figures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Rajnath Singh paid their respects, recalling his iconic contributions to Indian cinema.
Manoj Kumar breathed his last at 3:30 am on Friday at Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The hospital’s medical certificate revealed decompensated liver cirrhosis as a secondary cause of death. Born in 1937 in Abbottabad, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan), Manoj Kumar embarked on his Bollywood journey in 1957 with the film Fashion. He rose to fame with roles in patriotic films that ignited a sense of national pride among audiences. His early success in movies like Gumnaam (1965) and Shaheed (1965) paved the way for his career-defining roles in Upkaar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981).
Manoj Kumar’s contributions were not limited to acting; he also won the Best Director award at the Filmfare Awards in 1975 for Roti Kapada Aur Makaan. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1992, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015. Before the 2004 general elections, Manoj Kumar joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reflecting his political inclinations.
