Veteran actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87; PM Modi pays respects

Manoj Kumar had received seven Filmfare Awards in various categories like Best Film, Best Director, Best Story, Best Actor, Best Dialogues and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Mumbai: Veteran actor Manoj Kumar, who earned the nickname Bharat Kumar, for his patriotic and nationalistic hit films like Shaheed, Upkar, Kranti and Purab aur Paschim, passed away in Mumbai on Friday.

Manoj Kumar's iconic Shirdi ke Sai Baba, is still a hit.

The handsome Manoj Kumar was a multi-faceted personality having worked as an actor, director, producer, screenwriter, lyricist and an editor, a feat achieved by a handful in Hindi cinema.

He was 87 and has two sons Kunal and Vishal with his wife Shashi Goswami.

Manoj Kumar was ailing for some time because of age-related issues.

He passed away around 0330 hrs at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, where he was admitted for the past few weeks. The last rites would be conducted on Saturday.

From Pakistan to India and films

Born, Harikrishan Goswami on 24 July, 1937, he hailed from a Punjabi-Hindu Brahmin family from Abbottabad, presently in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.

When he was around 10, the family migrated to India after Partition.

His interest in cinema brought him to Bombay, now Mumbai, and got him his first break in 1957 film Fashion.

His major success, however, came in 1964 with Woh Kaun Thi, a thriller. He took the name Manoj Kumar from Dilip Kumar's character in 1949 film Shabnam.

Awards and recognition

Manoj Kumar was a recipient of a National Award, Padma Shri (1992) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2015).

He had received seven Filmfare Awards in various categories like Best Film, Best Director, Best Story, Best Actor, Best Dialogues and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

He gained widespread recognition with films such as Shaheed (1965), Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), Kranti (1981) many of which he also directed.

Shaheed was based on the life of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

After the 1965 India-Pakistan War, the then Prime Minister encouraged him to make a film on the theme of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan which led to Upkar in 1967.

His performance in Upkar and Kranti solidified his patriotic image, leading to his famous moniker.

One of the high points if his career was multi-starrer Kranti, a historical drama set in the backdrop of freedom struggle. In the film, his name was Bharat.

The 1974 film Roti Kapada aur Makaan was an action drama and refers to the basic necessities of life - a catchphrase popularised by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

He quit as an actor in 1995 after Maidan-e-Jung, however, in 1999 directed Jai Hind starring his son Kunal.

The 1970 film Purab aur Paschim is based on the cultural differences between the East and the West.

Before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he joined the BJP and supported Narendra Modi, who became the Prime Minister.