Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 4: Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon has paid an emotional tribute to Manoj Kumar, remembering him as a “genius ahead of his time.”
Raveena shared her deep admiration for the late actor-filmmaker and also recalled his personal connection with her family.
🗣️ “We can never forget him. He was so close to me. He gave my father his first break in Balidaan. My father was so close to him. He was always a visionary—whether it was filmmaking, storytelling, or even creativity. When he gave the song ‘Jab Zero Diya Mere Bharat Ne’, there was no concept of a revolving restaurant in India, so he created something like that.”
Tandon also credited Kumar’s patriotic films for shaping her own sense of nationalism:
“I think the patriotism that I have in me, I would say, it has come from him, his films, and my father.”
Manoj Kumar’s Legacy in Indian Cinema
📌 Born: July 24, 1937, in Abbottabad (now in Pakistan)
📌 Passed Away: April 4, 2025, at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
📌 Known as: “Bharat Kumar” for his iconic patriotic roles
📌 Major Films: Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Shaheed (1965), Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974)
Kumar’s directorial debut, Upkar (1967), won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film and set the tone for his future works that blended social consciousness with patriotic themes.
His contributions as an actor, director, producer, and screenwriter made him one of the most revered figures in Indian cinema.
A Nation Mourns His Loss
The film fraternity and political leaders have expressed their condolences, remembering him as a cinematic icon who instilled patriotism through his films.
Manoj Kumar’s cinematic legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.