The famous Bollywood patriotic song ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti, ‘ which still gets many people emotional when they hear it, was performed on screen by Manoj Kumar. The veteran actor and producer whose name was first mentioned in Bollywood for patriotism. He breathed his last at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai on Friday. He was 87 years old at the time of his death.
He had been suffering from various physical problems related to old age for a long time. Recently, when his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. Doctors said that he was suffering from heart disease and had also been suffering from liver cirrhosis for a long time. The death certificate of the hospital mentions that he died due to these two reasons.
His son Kunal was by his side at the time of his death. Informing about his father’s death, he said that Manoj Kumar breathed his last at 3:30 am last night. Although he was ill for a long time, he always fought against his illness. Kunal said that Manoj Kumar’s last rites would be performed at Pawan Hans on Saturday morning. And just two months later, he would have celebrated his 88th birthday. In his old age, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
As soon as the news of the death of this great actor spread, stars from various fields, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed their condolences. His name had become a reflection of the country in many Bollywood performances. Through these films, he became a bright face of patriotism. That is why he got the title of ‘Bharat Kumar’, which became synonymous with his identity. For his outstanding contribution, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992. In 2016, he received the highest honor of the film industry, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Director Ashok Pandit said that Manoj Kumar had been ill for the last few years, but he was lively and always smiling. His absence will create an irreplaceable void in Bollywood. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar said that Manoj Kumar taught him what patriotism should be. He was a person from whom one can learn love and brotherhood.
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Writer Manoj Muntashir said that he always feels proud that his name is associated with Manoj Kumar. His films have taught him patriotism. He mentioned that without him, it would not have been possible to write songs like ‘Teri Mitti’. Muntashir bid farewell to him by calling him a ‘hero’.
Director Vivek Agnihotri said that Manoj Kumar was a visionary director who taught Indian cinema a new language. His films are worth remembering for a lifetime.
He was born in 1937 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was formerly known as Abbottabad, in present-day Pakistan. His real name was Harikrishnan Goswami. He started his journey in Bollywood in 1957 at the age of just 20 with the film ‘Fashion’. Then, in 1961, he caught the attention of the audience by acting in the film ‘Kach Ki Guriya’. However, the film ‘Gumnaam’ took him to the peak of commercial success. This film, released in 1965, made a business of 2.6 crores, which was a new record at that time.
‘Maidan-e-Jung’, released in 1995, was his last big screen work. After that, he gradually withdrew from acting. But his contribution and the impact of cinema are still indelible in the minds of the audience.
The death of a person and artist like Manoj Kumar is a huge loss not only for Bollywood but for the entire country. His patriotism, acting, and production ideas will continue to inspire the new generation for a long time.
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