Veteran actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar passes away at 87
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar, who came to be known as 'Bharat Kumar' for his series of patriotic films such as "Shaheed", "Upkar" and "Purab Aur Paschim", died in a Mumbai hospital early Friday. He was 87.
The industry veteran, whose films ruled the box office in the late 1960s and 1970s, had been ailing for a while and died of age related issues at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital around 3.30 am, family friend and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit told PTI.
"He had been hospitalized for the past few weeks," Dr Santosh Shetty, CEO and executive director of the hospital, said in a statement.
"He is out of his misery now," the filmmaker's son Kunal told PTI, adding that his father had been battling multiple health issues and was bedridden for the last few years.
Kumar had been in and out of hospital and was most recently admitted for pneumonia, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered him as an "icon of Indian cinema".
"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," the prime minister wrote on X.
Kumar, a Dadasaheb Phalke winner, was also known for hits such as "Do Badan", "Haryali Aur Rasta" and "Gumnam".
Born Harikrishan Goswami into a Punjabi Hindu family in Abbotabad town (Pakistan) in the undivided India, Kumar's family migrated to Delhi and he completed his graduation from Hindu College before shifting to Mumbai to pursue a career in movies.
In an interview with PTI in 2021, Kumar recalled that he fell in love with Dilip Kumar's performance in "Shabnam" and decided to rechristen himself Manoj, his idol's name in the movie.
"I remember the time when I went to watch Dilip Kumar sahib in 'Shabnam' which was released in 1949. It is because of him that I became a fan of cinema. I fell in love with his character in the film whose name was Manoj. I must be 11 years old then but I instantly decided that if and whenever I become an actor I will keep my name as Manoj Kumar," he said.
Years after that, Dilip Kumar agreed to play a role in his filn "Kranti" and the filmmaker said he was overjoyed.
Kumar's first major success was Vijay Bhatt's "Hariyali Aur Rasta" in 1962 opposite Mala Sinha and then the thriller "Woh Kaun Thi?", which came to be known for its hit songs such as "Lag jaa gale".
In 1965, he released "Shaheed", a film on the life of Bhagat Singh. It was a major success and was even noticed by then prime minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri.
A conversation with Shastri inspired Kumar to explore a story on the PM's popular slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". And thus was born "Upkar", his directorial debut.
The movie was a blockbuster and its song "Mere desh ki dharti" is still a favourite with music lovers on Independence Day and Republic Day.
In between his patriotic films, Kumar played the romantic lead in films such as "Himalay Ki God Mein", "Do Badan", "Sawan Ki Ghata" and thriller "Gumnaam".
In 1970, he made "Purab Aur Paschim" on the themes of cultural differences between the East and West, another major success of his career.
He came to be known as "Bharat Kumar" for his love for patriotic and socially conscious movies, a theme that he further explored in "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan" and Kranti".
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Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol unveil ‘DDLJ’ sculpture at London’s Leicester Square
London (PTI): Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol huddled under an umbrella on a rainy Thursday in London to unveil their bronze likeness from an iconic ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ scene.
The sculpture of the duo joins Leicester Square’s ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail depicting memorable shots from some of the world’s most famous films, with ‘DDLJ’ marking a Bollywood first and the 30th anniversary of the 1995 box-office hit. It is in this popular London square that SRK as Raj and Kajol as Simran first cross paths unknowingly.
“DDLJ was made with a pure heart. We wanted to tell a story about love, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it, and I think this is why 'DDLJ' has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now," said Khan.
“Personally, 'DDLJ' is part of my identity, and it is humbling to see film, and Kajol and me, receiving so much love since it was released,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Heart of London Business Alliance, behind the cinematic trail at Leicester Square, for celebrating ‘DDLJ’ and “immortalising” its lead stars.
“Seeing ‘DDLJ’ become the first Indian film to be honoured in the iconic Scenes in the Square trail is an emotional moment and has brought back so many memories.
"I feel immense pride knowing the film has been embraced around the world, and I want to share this moment with the entire cast and crew of ‘DDLJ’, my friend and director Aditya Chopra and the Yash Raj Films family. This is a moment I will never forget,” added Khan.
Kajol, joined by her daughter Nysa and son Yug, posed with Khan in front of the statue as she braved the rain in a green saree.
“It’s incredible to see ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ continue to receive so much love, even 30 years later. Watching the statue being unveiled in London felt like reliving a piece of our history - a story that has truly travelled across generations,” said Kajol.
“Seeing it find its rightful place in Leicester Square, a location of such enormous significance to ‘DDLJ’, makes this moment even more special. For the film to be honoured in this way in the UK – the first Indian film to receive such recognition – is something that will forever stay in the hearts and minds of all the ‘DDLJ’ fans across the world,” she said.
Their statue, captured in a dancing pose from the hit song ‘Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna’, joins the likes of Harry Potter, Bridget Jones, Mary Poppins, and Batman in what is dubbed as an ever-growing celebration of movie magic in a square packed with multiplex cinema screens.
“When ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, DDLJ, was released 30 years ago, the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry, capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe," said Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films.
“We’re thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in ‘Scenes in the Square’. It also marks 30 years of DDLJ, a film that has spread love and joy globally, and shows the cultural impact it has had in UK.
“We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognised on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel & Hardy to Harry Potter. This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema,” he said.
Since its release in 1995, ‘DDLJ’ has become the longest-running film in Hindi cinema history.
Ros Morgan, Chief Executive at Heart of London Business Alliance, said: “We’re proud to welcome global megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to our Scenes in the Square trail.
"Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a cinematic phenomenon that has shaped generations, and London’s first tribute to Indian cinema honours a story whose magic continues to captivate audiences worldwide.”
It is a particularly special year for the film, with a musical based on the romance playing to packed houses at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year. Aditya Chopra reprised his role as director of the English language stage production, ‘Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical’, which revolved around the love story of Simran and Roger.
The script was a nod to the original as it followed Simran as a young British Indian woman who finds herself engaged to a family friend in India in an arranged marriage. However, the plot thickens when she falls in love with a British man named Roger.
