Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar died at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on Friday. He was 87 years old. His son, Kunal Goswami, confirmed the news to ANI and said that he died at around 3.30 am after battling health-related issues for a long time. Manoj Kumar was known for his patriotic films. Some of his hit films include 'Purab Aur Paschim, 'Kranti' and 'Roti, Kapada Aur Makaan', to name a few.
His son also added that the cremation will take place on Saturday. "It's the grace of the god that he bid adieu to this world peacefully. His cremation will take place tomorrow."
Manoj Kumar was popular for his patriotic films, which earned him the moniker, 'Bharat Kumar'. He was the recipient of a National Film Award and seven Filmfare awards.
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit mourned the demise of Manoj Kumar and paid tribute to him. Calling it a great loss to the film industry, Ashoke Pandit said, "Sad to inform you all that legendary Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, doyen of Indian film industry, Shri Manoj Kumar ji is no more. He breathed his last at the Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri. "
Pandit further added that Manoj Kumar was not keeping well for a long time. "It's a great loss to the industry. Manoj ji, will really miss you. We all kept meeting him quite occasionally. He was always full of life, always happy. The entire industry will miss him. A great soul like him, a great maker like him, will never be there in our industry," he stated.
He was not just an actor and director, but also proved his mettle as a screenwriter, lyricist and editor. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 1992 and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015 for his contribution to Indian cinema.
Kumar was born as Harikrishnan Giri Goswami in 1937 in Abbottabad, which is now in Pakistan. Abbottabad is a small town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). He and his family shifted to Delhi during the Partition. He made his Bollywood debut in 1957 with the film, 'Fashion'. But, it was his film 'Kanch Ki Gudiya', that got him his first break in the industry.
Apart from acting in films, he also directed timeless classics such as 'Upkar', 'Shor', 'Jai Hindi' and edited them.
Hailed as one of the legendary actors of Indian cinema, he was known for his collaborations with actors Prem Nath, Prem Chopra, Kamini Kaushal, Hema Malini and several others.
