Legendary Actor Manoj Kumar Passes Away: The Icon of Hindi Cinema, Bids Farewell to the World

In 1970, a film called Purab Aur Paschim was released in the Hindi cinema industry. This film ignited a unique sense of patriotism among the people of India. The song from the film, "Jab Zero Diya Mere Bharat Ne," still resonates in people’s hearts.

In 1970, the Hindi cinema industry witnessed the release of Purab Aur Paschim. This film instilled a special kind of patriotism in the hearts of the Indian people, and the song "Jab Zero Diya Mere Bharat Ne" continues to leave a lasting impression on audiences. The film featured the legendary actor Manoj Kumar, whose stellar performance left an indelible mark on the viewers. After watching his brilliant acting in the film, it is safe to say that no one else could have played that role better than him. Not only that, but throughout his illustrious career, he acted in several remarkable films, addressing themes like patriotism, social issues, and politics, shedding light on various important aspects. Today, this legendary actor has left us with teary eyes, but the characters he portrayed on screen will remain alive forever.

Manoj Kumar was born on July 24, 1937, in Abbottabad, Pakistan, into a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family. His real name was Harikrishan Giri Goswami. When India and Pakistan were partitioned in 1947, he moved with his family to Delhi at the age of 10. During this time, they had to live in a refugee camp. Later, the Goswami family settled in Patel Nagar, Delhi. It was here that he completed his schooling and graduated from Hindu College, Delhi University. After finishing his college education, Manoj Kumar decided to pursue a career in acting. At that time, no one could have imagined that he would one day become such a huge star.

At 19, He Played the Role of an Elderly Man

Manoj Kumar made his debut in 1957 with director Lekhraj Bhakri’s film Fashion, alongside Mala Sinha, Chandrashekhar, Pradeep Kumar, Sunder, Jagdish Sethi, Leela Mishra, and Kammo. In this film, he played the role of an elderly beggar, aged around 80-90 years. The surprising thing was that he was only 19 years old at the time.

In an interview, Manoj Kumar shared his thoughts about his acting career and this particular role. He mentioned that he had come to Hindi films to become a hero, but filmmaker Lekhraj Bhakri and Kuldeep Sehgal, whom he fondly called "Bhai Sahib," gave him the role of a 90-year-old beggar in Fashion (1957), when he was just 19. Manoj asked them, "What made you think of me for this role?" To which they replied, "You haven’t even worn out a single shoe yet, and here, people’s ages pass by." From that moment on, Manoj decided that he would make a name for himself in Hindi cinema and that this would be his lifelong profession.

After this film, Manoj Kumar appeared in several other movies, such as Sahara Panchayat, Honeymoon, Reshmi Roomal, Kanch Ki Gudiya (lead role), Suhag Sindoor, Shadi, Banarasi Thug, Dr. Vidya, and Nakhli Nawab. But it was his film Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) that gave him his big break. This movie marked the turning point in his career, and from then on, he never looked back. He went on to deliver several successful films, including Woh Kaun Thi, Gumnaam, and Himalaya Ki God, all of which were box office hits.

Manoj Kumar and Shashi Goswami’s Love Story

In an interview, Manoj Kumar spoke about his love story with Shashi Goswami. He revealed that during his time at Delhi University, he often visited his friend's house for studies. It was here that he first saw Shashi Goswami. Manoj shared that it was difficult to take his eyes off Shashi’s face, and for about a year and a half, they only observed each other from afar. Later, with the help of his friends, Manoj invited Shashi to watch a film at the Odeon Cinema, where they watched Udan Khatola. After that, they started meeting regularly. While Manoj’s family had no objections to the relationship, Shashi’s mother and brother did. They would go to their respective rooftops and secretly observe each other to avoid getting caught. Over time, their relationship grew stronger, and finally, in 1961, they got married in a love marriage. The couple had two sons, Vishal and Kunal Goswami.

Manoj Kumar’s Popular Films

Manoj Kumar's notable films include Fashion, Panchayat, Sahara, Shaheed, Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Kranti, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Shor, Clerk, Jai Hind, Dr. Vidya, Shadi, Banarasi Thug, Nakhli Nawab, Honeymoon, Grihasthi, Reshmi Roomal, Piya Milan Ki Aas, Suhag Sindoor, Shor, Gumnaam, and Shaheed, among many others. In addition to acting, Manoj Kumar also worked as a writer, director, and producer. He directed and produced films like Jai Hind, Clerk, Painter Babu, Kranti, Shor, and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. He was especially known for his films focused on patriotism and social issues.

Untold Stories

The First Silver Jubilee Film For his film Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962), Manoj Kumar received a signing amount of Rs. 11,000. This film was his first to achieve Silver Jubilee status. It was also his first film after marriage, and his wife often joked that it was her good luck that brought him such success. Manoj Kumar himself would humorously say, “Yes, I am just a working man.”

A Scene for Rs. 11 While struggling to become a hero, Manoj Kumar got an opportunity to write a scene for a film starring Ashok Kumar, the legendary "Dada Muni." For this scene, he was paid Rs. 11. Manoj Kumar recalled, "Producer Roshan Lal Malhotra was making a film called Zameen Aur Aasman. One day, he was sitting at the studio, looking worried. I asked him what was wrong, and he explained that the hero, Ashok Kumar, had very limited dates available, but now the scene they had wasn't working. I told him I could rewrite it, and when I did, Ashok Kumar liked it a lot. For this, I was paid Rs. 11." After that, several producers started approaching him to write scenes for their films.

Documentary Work Earned Him Rs. 1000 Early in his career, Manoj Kumar worked in a documentary film called Gangu Teli, which was made to promote Khadi. He was paid Rs. 1000 for this work.

Deeply Devoted to Bhakti An interesting story related to Manoj Kumar is when he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2015). He arrived in a wheelchair to receive the award, which was presented to him by then-President Pranab Mukherjee. As the President draped the shawl over him, Manoj Kumar bent down and touched his feet. Then, with trembling hands, he took a small idol from his pocket, which was later identified as a figurine of Shirdi Baba.

On-Screen as Shirdi Sai Baba Manoj Kumar had also portrayed Shirdi Sai Baba on screen. In 1977, he played the lead role in the film Shirdi Ke Sai Baba, directed by Ashok Venkat Bhushan. The film also starred Sudhir Dalvi, Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, and Raj Mehra in key roles.

Preserving His Image Manoj Kumar’s on-screen persona was special. He ensured that his characters reflected Indian values, patriotism, and simplicity. His characters were always honest, hardworking, and dedicated to their country. This is why he maintained a dignified image throughout his career. A notable example of this was when he refused to shoot a romantic scene with Zeenat Aman in the film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), stating that it didn’t align with the image of India he wanted to project on screen.

Awards and Honors Manoj Kumar received numerous awards throughout his career:

Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2015): For his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

Filmfare Awards:

• Best Director for Upkar (1967) in 1968.
• Best Actor for Beimaan (1972)  in 1972.
• Best Director for Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) in 1975.
• National Film Award (1968): Best Feature Film for Upkar.
• Padma Shri (1992): For his contribution to the field of arts.

Manoj Kumar, the legendary actor-director of Indian cinema, passed away on April 3. His contribution to the cinema world will never be forgotten. His signature style ruled the hearts of fans, and there will never be another like him.

On behalf of Myapuri Magazine, we offer a heartfelt tribute to the great actor-director Manoj Kumar, also known as Bharat Kumar. His contribution to Indian cinema is priceless, and the legacy he leaves behind will be remembered forever.

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