Mumbai: Renowned actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar passed away at a hospital in Mumbai on Friday. He was 87. The news of his death was shared by filmmaker Ashoke Pandit through a video statement that was posted by ANI on ‘X’.
“The legendary Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, our inspiration and the ‘lion’ of the Indian film industry, Manoj Kumar Ji is more. It is a great loss to the industry, and the entire film fraternity will miss him,” Pandit said.
Kumar passed away at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital where he was admitted due to a prolonged illness, it was learned. According to the medical report, Kumar died of cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction.
Manoj Kumar, fondly called ‘Bharat Kumar’ by many was certainly a legend among those who loved patriotic movies. His notable works include Purab aur Paschim, Upkar, Shaheed and Roti, Kapda aur Makaan.
Even the songs from his films, such as ‘Rang De Basanti Chola’, ‘Ye Desh Ki Dharti’, ‘Jab Zero Diya Mere Bharat Ne’ and ‘Kasme, Waade, Pyaar, Wafaa Sab’, were chartbusters.
His iconic roles certainly helped in stirring the conscience of an entire generation of the country, guiding them towards patriotism and unity. It was his constant effort to portray India and her culture and traditions in extremely good light.
Born as Harikrishan Goswami on July 24, 1937, Kumar was the recipient of a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.
