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Born Jul 24
Manoj Bharat Kumar carved a niche for himself as Bollywood's most famous patriot. Though a top film maker, he was pretty limited as an actor. Yet, he succeeded as a hero. And was very successful as an actor-director.
Who is Hari Krishna Goswami?
For all you Manoj Kumar fans, who know him, better as Bharath Kumar, this is his actual name.
A self-proclaimed fan of Dilip Kumar, he started calling himself Manoj Kumar and that's exactly how Hari Krishna Goswami became the legendary Manoj Kumar.
At the age of nine Manoj Kumar decided that one day he would become an actor like his idol Dilip Kumar who had made him weep when he sacrificed his life for the country in Shaheed.
The dream came true after plenty of struggle and hard work. Manoj Kumar's initial films like Fashion, Panchayat and Chand were complete washouts. So did half-a-dozen others and he had to take up ghostwriting scenes to survive in movie town. In his first film, Fashion, Manoj Kumar played a 90-year-old beggar.
He was only nineteen at that time. The next few films like Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961), Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962), Himalay Ki Godh Mein, Woh Koun Thi (1964), Shaheed (1965), Gumnaam (1965), and Do Badan (1966) earned good audience appreciation for the actor.
One of his biggest hits came with Shaheed and Manoj Kumar was nicknamed, Bharat Kumar, for his patriotic role. He played the revolutionary Bhagat Singh.
Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri requested the young filmmaker to make a film, which would bring home his slogan of Jai jawan, Jai kisan. On his way back to Mumbai by train the story of Upkar was written.
The film did a great business and also bagged a number of awards. He became the king of patriotic films by producing more films like Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Purab Aur Paschim with the same theme.
These series of patriotic films also marked Manoj Kumar's best phase as an actor. He bagged the Filmfare Best Actor award for Be-Imaan (1972), Filmfare Best Director awards for the films Upkar (1967) and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) and the Best Film award for Upkar (1967).
After having given a series of super hits, Manoj Kumar got his chance to fulfill his dream of working with his icon. His multi-star cast mega movie, Kranti, fulfilled his dream of working with Dilip Kumar.
This legendary actor took a long gap of seven years after the success of Kranti and came back with Clerk and Kalyug Aur Ramayan.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete washout at the box-office. With a career spanning for over 60 years, Manoj Kumar is today one of the most well-disciplined and highly respected senior artistes in the industry.
Filmfare honoured him with Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 1998. Recently, he received the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sadbhawana Award-1999 for his contribution to Hindi cinema.
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