Manoj Kumar Death: Anupam Kher Credits Him For Instilling Sense Of Patriotism; ‘Cried When I Watched Shaheed…’
Legendary actor-director Manoj Kumar passed away on Friday. Anupam Kher paid a heartfelt tribute to him, and recalled that his 1967 patriotic drama Upkar marked the first film he ever watched.
Veteran Bollywood actor and director Manoj Kumar passed away on Friday morning. He was 87. Tributes for the legendary actor have been pouring in on social media. Anupam Kher shared a video on Instagram, reminiscing about the profound impact of the legendary actor. He recalled that his 1967 patriotic drama ‘Upkar’ marked the first film he ever watched. Anupam Kher said that Manoj Kumar’s films have had a huge role in instilling a sense of patriotism in him through his movies. He bid farewell to Manoj Kumar, and encouraged everyone to watch his iconic films like ‘Upkar’, ‘Shaheed’ and others if they haven’t already.
In his video message, Anupam Kher said that Manoj Kumar’s ‘Upkaar’ was the first film that he recalls watching. He then said that the late actor had a huge part to play in instilling the spirit of patriotism in him. He recalled meeting Manoj Kumar in the latter’s Mumbai office when he was looking for work. “Unhone kaha tha ki ‘aapke chehre mein jazbaa hai, kashish hai’. Bade saaf tareeke se bola ki main to aajkal kuchh bana nahi raha hu. Aur chhota mota role mat karna. Shayad tum bada role karne ke qaabil ho. Par mere pass abhi filhaal koi kaam nahi hai. (He had said, ‘You have passion and charisma in your face.’ He told me very frankly that he wasn’t making any films at the moment. And he advised me not to take small roles. He said, ‘Maybe you’re capable of doing bigger roles, but I don’t have any work right now,’" said Anupam Kher.
related stories
- Anupam Kher Unveils Poignant First Look Of Tanvi: The Great; Fans Call It ‘Magical’ And ‘Full of Heart’
- Anupam Kher Fought When Robert De Niro Wanted Him Out From Silver Linings Playbook Scene: 'Bradley Cooper...'
- Neil Nitin Mukesh Rejects ‘Nepo Kid’ Tag, Says ‘If It Was An Advantage, I Wouldn’t Have Struggled’
- Manoj Kumar Felt Sad As Actors He Helped Forgot About Him After Success: 'They Don't Mention Me, Dukh Hota Hai'
Anupam Kher Recalls Manoj Kumar Called Him After Watching Saaransh
The ’Uunchai’ actor said that Manoj Kumar’s honest reply was a huge thing for him. He also recalled that the actor-director called Kher after watching his debut film ‘Saaransh.’ “I reminded him that I had come to him asking for work. He said, ‘Wasn’t that good? Didn’t I tell you this?’ He said, ‘Bohot lambi race ke ghode ho tum. (You’re a long-distance runner)."
In his video message, Anupam Kher said that real people are hard to come by in the film industry, and that Manoj Kumar was one of them. “Just four months ago, I visited him again at his home. I asked if I could take a picture with him. He said, ‘Go ahead, but don’t post it anywhere.’ I thought, people like him are very rare. Real, patriotic, filled with passion, straightforward. Just imagine how one person has contributed so much to making our generation patriotic," he said.
Anupam Kher Mourns Manoj Kumar’s Demise
Anupam Kher also added that he had cried a lot after watching Manoj Kumar starrer ‘Shaheed’. " Just because a great man has not done work for a long time does not take away his greatness. We live in an instant world these days and we forget our pioneers. Somewhere, in me and in many people of my generation, in our careers and in our lives, Manoj Kumar ji has played a huge part. Goodbye, Manoj Kumar ji. You have given me so much through your films, your life, and your personality. The world will miss you," he said.
He further added that he will watch Manoj Kumar’s films ‘Upkar’ and ‘Shaheed’ once again. He also urged those who haven’t seen the films yet, to watch them.
Manoj Kumar’s Death
Manoj Kumar’s son, Kunal Goswami, issued a statement and revealed that the actor was facing age-related health issues for a long time. He also revealed that Kumar left for the heavenly abode peacefully. “He has had health-related issues for a long time. It’s the grace of god that he bid adieu to this world peacefully. His cremation will take place tomorrow," he told ANI.
Manoj Kumar was known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes. Some of his popular works include “Shaheed" (1965), “Upkar" (1967), “Purab Aur Paschim" (1970), and “Roti Kapda Aur Makaan" (1974). Because of his association with such movies, the actor was also widely called “Bharat Kumar".
- Location :
- First Published: