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Manoj Kumar: Manoj Kumar, legendary actor and film maker of Hindi cinema, breathed his last at the age of 87. On this occasion, today we know about some unheard stories of Bharat Kumar’s life.
04 April, 2025
Hands Kumar: Manoj Kumar is the name of Hindi cinema which has a long way in the industry. Actor, director and producer Manoj Kumar is also known as Bharat Kumar. Manoj Kumar, who came to Mumbai from Delhi to dream of becoming a hero at the age of 19, was Harikishan Goswami. However, hardly anyone knows him by this name. His first film was released in 1957, named ‘Fashion’. You will be surprised to know that at the age of 19, he played an 80 -year -old beggar in this film. After this, he played small roles in many big films, but Manoj was waiting for a big break.
When Manoj came as a hero on screen
In the year 1961, the film ‘Kancha Ki Gudiya’ was the first film of Manoj Kumar as a hero. However, this film did not get his career a special place. After this, he acted in many films like ‘Fake Nawab’, ‘Banarasi Thugs’, ‘Apna Bana Ke Dekho’ and ‘Suhag Sindoor’. But Manoj got recognition from the film ‘Hariyali Aur Rasta’ released in 1962. This film changed the path of his career. Then he put a series of hit films like ‘Woh Kaun Thi’, ‘Anonymous’, ‘Shaheed’, ‘Apna Hua Paraye’, ‘Himalaya’s lap’, ‘Do Badan’, ‘Patthar Ke Sanam’, ‘Upkar’, ‘Neelkamal’ and ‘Purab and Paschim’.
When Bharat Kumar Name
In 1964, Manoj Kumar’s career took a new turn when his film ‘Shaheed’ was released. The film was made on Bhagat Singh’s life. From here, Manoj Kumar’s image started to be made as a hero of patriotic films. Then he put a line of patriotic films like ‘Upkar’, ‘East and Paschim’, ‘Shor’, ‘Kranti’, ‘Maidan e Jung’, ‘Roti Close and House’. After this, his name was Bharat Kumar in the film industry.
When Amitabh made a career
Few people know that Manoj Kumar was the person who saved Amitabh Bachchan’s sinking career. Actually, when Amitabh Bachchan started his career in films, many of his films flopped one after the other. Disappointed, Amitabh decided to leave Mumbai and go to Delhi to his parents. At that time, Manoj Kumar stopped Amitabh and gave him a chance to work in his film ‘Roti Tapa Aur House’.
Leaders also liked Manoj’s films
From Indira Gandhi to Atal Bihari Bajpai and Lal Bahadur Shastri, big leaders also liked Manoj Kumar’s films. For the screening of his film ‘Shaheed’, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri himself came. After watching the film, Shastri ji called Manoj Kumar to his house feast and said that I want you to make a film on my slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. Manoj Kumar also liked this idea. While coming to Mumbai from Delhi, he sat with a diary and pen in his hand. By the time the train stopped at Bombay Central, Manoj Kumar had written the story of the film ‘Upkar’. In this film, Manoj Kumar not only worked but also directed it. Along with the film, ‘Upkar’ song ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharki Sona Sonale’ was also super hit. This song of 7 minutes 14 seconds still comes at the top of the best patriotic songs.
How Manoj Kumar’s name was
We have already mentioned that Manoj Kumar’s real name was Harikishan. In childhood, he watched a film called ‘Shabnam’ in which Dilip Kumar was hero. Manoj Kumar was the name of Dilip Kumar’s character in that film. In that film, Harikishan liked Manoj Kumar’s name and character so much that he decided that whenever he became a hero, he will keep his name Manoj Kumar. Well, now this legend of Hindi cinema is no longer among us, but Manoj Kumar will always be in the heart of his loved ones.
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