Veteran actor-director Manoj Kumar died at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of patriotic movies that made him the legendary figure of ‘Bharat Kumar. ‘ Bollywood great Manoj Kumar passed away at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai at 4:03 am on Friday. His body will be kept at his Juhu bungalow for fans and colleagues from the film industry to bid their last farewell. The cremation will likely happen on Saturday.
How Manoj Kumar Became ‘Bharat Kumar’
Manoj Kumar had once recounted the interesting story of how he came to be known as ‘Bharat Kumar‘. During a Lehren Retro interview, he explained that his performance of the character ‘Bharat’ in the 1967 film Upkar caused the public to fondly refer to him by the name. It came to eventually become a signature aspect of his name in Indian cinema.
He said, “Aksar jo achha character hain uska naam ho voh rakh dete hain. Toh mainne socha ki Bharat desh toh gaon mein baasta hai, kisano ka desh hai toh uss character ka naam main Bharat rakh dun aur uski zindagi mein joh khetun se alag hua hai, ek ladki aati hai, aise aati hai kaise koi jhilmil karti hui Kavita. Isiliye ladki ka naam Kavita rakh diya.”
Emphasizing further the importance of the name, he said, “Bharat isiliye rakha tha Bharat gaon mein basta hai, and yeh kis`ano ka desh ka hai. Aur humare desh ki public itni dayalu hai ke unko koi cheez genuine aur achi laagti hai aur sachi laage toh woh itna pyaar and izzat dete hain jo duniya mein koi nahi deta.”. Main toh seedha saadha ladka tha, aap logun ne Bharat bana diya. Ehsaan kiya, bhooj bhi dal diya ke uss image ko nibhane ke liye mushkil hogaya.
A Commitment to His Image
Manoj Kumar also lived up to his title and made sure his on-screen character matched the ideals he stood for. He would go out of his way to avoid romantic scenes with heroines in his movies, feeling it was important to stick to his patriotic image. “If one speaks of ideals, one cannot be crooning songs with one’s arm around a girl or diving into water. Who is going to believe me?” he once said.
Manoj Kumar’s Legacy of Patriotism
Manoj Kumar was glorified for his legendary performances in movies that fanned national pride. His acting in Shaheed, Upkar, and Rang De Basanti touched hearts in such a way that he became the face of patriotism in Bollywood. His skill in mixing compelling plots with patriotic passion distinguished him in the industry.
Cause of Death and Final Rites
Manoj Kumar suffered from cardiogenic shock because of acute myocardial infarction, a massive heart attack, according to the medical reports mentioned by ANI. He was also fighting decompensated liver cirrhosis for quite some time, which also aided in his weakening.
His earthly body will lie at his Juhu residence to be seen by the public as fans and friends come to mourn and offer respect. Saturday sees him cremated, marking the last day of an era in Indian cinema history.
A Nation Grieves Over Death of Legend
Manoj Kumar’s contribution to Bollywood and his steadfast adherence to patriotic cinema will keep inspiring generations. His death creates a gap that will be difficult to fill, but his legacy will remain eternal in his films.