Veteran actor Manoj Kumar, renowned for his iconic roles in patriotic films such as Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti, passed away at the age of 87 in Mumbai. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital, where he succumbed to heart-related complications at 3:30 am on Friday. The medical certificate issued by the hospital listed decompensated liver cirrhosis as the secondary cause of his death.
Born in Abbottabad, a small town in the North-West Frontier Province of British India (now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan), in 1937, Kumar was originally named Harikrishnan Goswami.
Condoling his demise, PM Narendra Modi wrote on X, “Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films. Manoj Ji’s works ignited a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
He made his Bollywood debut in 1957 with the film Fashion and gained recognition with his performance in Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961), alongside Sayeeda Khan. His thriller Gumnaam (1965) was a major success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of that year, earning Rs 2.6 crores. In the same year, he portrayed the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Shaheed.
Manoj Kumar earned the nickname ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his memorable roles in patriotic films like Upkaar (1967), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), and Kranti (1981). He also directed and starred in Shor (1972).
In 1975, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for his movie Roti Kapada Aur Makaan. Over the years, Mr. Kumar received several prestigious honors, including the Padma Shri in 1992, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015. Ahead of the 2004 general elections, Kumar formally joined the BJP.
