Friday, April 4, 2025 - Veteran Bollywood actor and director Manoj Kumar has d!ed at the age of 87
The actor died of "age-related health issues", Dr Santosh Shetty of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where the actor was admitted, said.
His son, Kunal Goswami, told ANI news agency that Kumar had
been battling health issues for a long time.
Kumar leaves behind a rich legacy of patriotic films, which
propelled him to fame in the 1960s and 1970s.
Tributes from fans, celebrities, and politicians have been
pouring in on social media, mourning his death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him an "icon of
Indian cinema"
"Manoj Ji's [a term of respect in Hindi] works ignited
a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations," he
wrote in a post on X.
Akshay Kumar said he grew up watching Kumar's films which
inculcated in him a sense of love and pride for the nation.
Ajay Devgn praised Kumar for creating moments that are now
part of "Indian cinema's golden history" and thanked him for
inspiring storytellers like himself.
Kumar, who was originally named Harikrishan Goswami, was
born in 1937 in the northern state of Punjab.
He carved a niche for himself in the Hindi film industry
with films like Shaheed, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and Kranti.
His films echoed patriotic fervour - his defining trait -
exploring themes like love for the motherland, farmers' struggles and the
sacrifices of India's freedom fighters.
Released at a time when India was still grappling with the
aftermath of nearly 200 years of British rule, his films resonated deeply with
audiences.
He was fondly called 'Bharat Kumar' (the Hindi name for
India) by his fans and peers.
His popularity endured into the 21st century, with fans
often turning film clips in which he was seen espousing patriotism into viral
memes, cementing his status.
Kumar received numerous awards over the years, including the
Padma Shri - the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
0 Comments