The death of seasoned actor and director Manoj Kumar on Friday at the age of 87 is causing shock in the Indian film scene. Among the several voices honouring his legacy, c paid a moving homage on X, honouring Kumar’s unmatched influence to films. Manoj Kumar ji created films with unparalleled honesty that elevated our nation, our cinema, and promoted unity. a legendary person in every aspect. His movies defined a period and changed our movie business. One thanks, sir. You will always be ‘Bharat’ to us, Shah Rukh said.
After suffering age-related health problems, Manoj Kumar, affectionately known as “Bharat Kumar,” took his last at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital with great patriotic fervour. With films like Upkar, Shaheed, and Purab Aur Paschim mixing fun with sentiments of national pride, his passing signals the end of an era.
Given their past hostilities, Shah Rukh’s tribute has more weight. Manoj Kumar had objected back in 2007 to a sequence in Shah Rukh’s Om Shanti Om which the star’s character, Om Prakash Makhija, slips into a premiere using Kumar’s pass—a humorous swipe at the veteran’s iconic hand-over-face gesture. When the uncensored version reappeared in Japan in 2013, Kumar considered it disrespectful and sought legal action for damages of Rs 100 crore. The episode made an impact even though he finally dropped the matter.
Among others, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar honoured the late actor in past years. Apart from film fraternity members, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of India, Droupadi Murmu, have also sent their sincere sympathies on social media.
