Manoj Kumar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manoj Kumar
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Kumar in 2007
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| Born |
Harikrishan Giri Goswami
24 July 1937 |
| Died | 4 April 2025 (aged 87) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Bharat Kumar |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1957–1999 |
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Works
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Full list |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse(s) | Shashi Goswami |
| Children | 2; including Kunal Goswami |
| Relatives | Manish R Goswami (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours |
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Harikrishan Giri Goswami, known professionally as Manoj Kumar, was a famous Indian actor, director, and writer. He worked in Hindi cinema for over 40 years, appearing in 54 films.
Manoj Kumar was honored with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015. These are two of India's highest awards for contributions to arts and cinema. He also won a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Manoj Kumar was born in Abbottabad, which is now in Pakistan. His family was Punjabi Hindu.
When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Delhi, India. This happened because of the Partition of India, when India and Pakistan became separate countries. He earned a college degree from Hindu College, Delhi. He chose the name Manoj Kumar after a character played by the famous actor Dilip Kumar in the 1949 film Shabnam.
A Star's Journey in Films
Manoj Kumar started his acting career in 1957. He had small roles in films like Fashion (1957) and Sahara (1958). His first main role was in Kaanch Ki Gudiya (1961).
Becoming Well-Known (1962–1964)
His big break came in 1962 with the film Hariyali Aur Rasta. This movie was very successful. He then starred in other popular films like Shaadi (1962) and Grahasti (1963).
In 1964, he had a hit with the mystery film Woh Kaun Thi?. This movie was a huge success. It featured famous songs like Lag Jaa Gale and Naina Barse Rimjhim.
Rise to Stardom (1965–1981)
The year 1965 was important for Manoj Kumar. His film Shaheed was a patriotic drama. It was based on the life of Bhagat Singh, an Indian freedom fighter. The film was praised by critics and was a box office hit.
After the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, India's Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, asked him to make a film. The film was to be based on the slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kissan" (Hail the soldier, hail the farmer). This led to Manoj Kumar's first film as a director, Upkar (1967).
Upkar and Patriotic Films
Upkar was a big success and became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of its time. A song from the film, Mere Desh Ki Dharti, is still played often on India's Republic Day and Independence Day. Upkar won Manoj Kumar a National Film Award and his first Filmfare Best Director Award. Because of his patriotic films, he earned the nickname Bharat Kumar (meaning "India Kumar").
In 1968, he starred in Neel Kamal, which was a blockbuster. He also appeared in Aadmi with Dilip Kumar.
Success in the 1970s
In 1970, Manoj Kumar's film Purab Aur Paschim was popular in India and even in the United Kingdom. It set a record for running over 50 weeks in London. He also had hits with Yaadgaar and Pehchan.
In 1972, he starred in Be-Imaan, for which he won his only Filmfare Award for Best Actor. He also directed and acted in Shor. This film featured the famous song Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai.
Manoj Kumar continued his success in the mid-1970s. He directed and starred in Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974). This film had a big cast, including Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. Its music album was one of the best-selling of the 1970s.
In 1975, he starred in Sanyasi, which was another blockbuster. He also appeared in the action film Dus Numbri (1976). In 1981, he directed and acted in the historical drama Kranti, which was also a big hit.
Later Career (1987–1999)
After Kranti, Manoj Kumar's film career slowed down. His later films like Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987) and Clerk (1989) were not as successful. He stopped acting after the 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung.
His last film project was Jai Hind (1999), which he directed. At the 44th Filmfare Awards that year, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his long career in cinema.
Life Beyond Films
Politics
Like some other Bollywood stars, Manoj Kumar entered politics after retiring from acting. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party before the 2004 Indian general election.
Personal Life
Manoj Kumar was married to Shashi Goswami. They met in college before he became an actor. They had two sons, Vishal and Kunal.
Passing Away
Manoj Kumar passed away on April 4, 2025, in Mumbai. He was 87 years old. He had been dealing with heart-related issues and liver problems.
The Government of Maharashtra allowed his cremation to be held with state honors. Many important people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, shared their condolences. They praised his great contributions to Indian cinema. His ashes were later immersed in the Ganges river.
His Lasting Impact
Manoj Kumar is remembered as one of the most important actors in Indian cinema. He was especially known for his patriotic films. As of 2025, he is considered one of the most successful Bollywood actors ever. Many of the films he directed, like Upkar, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and Kranti, sold millions of tickets.
In 2022, Outlook India magazine included him in their list of "75 Best Bollywood Actors."
Manoj Kumar had a unique way of covering his face with one hand. This became a famous gesture. It was even referenced in the 2007 film Om Shanti Om, where a character pretended to be him using this gesture.
Awards and Recognitions
Manoj Kumar received many awards throughout his career. These include the Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which are very high honors in India. He also won several Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award.
See also
In Spanish: Manoj Kumar para niños
