Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar reportedly died at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital in the wee hours of April 4. He was 87. According to reports, he was admitted to the hospital due to heart-related complications. The secondary cause of death is decompensated liver cirrhosis, as per the medical certificate issued by the hospital. According to his son, Kunal Goswami, the cremation will take place on the morning of April 4.
Who was Manoj Kumar?
Manoj Kumar was born on July 24, 1937, in Abbottabad, British India (now Pakistan). His birth name was Harikrishnan Giri Goswami, but he adopted a stage name inspired by Dilip Kumar, according to The Pioneer. He debuted in Bollywood in 1957 with the film Fashion. In 1961, his film Kaanch Ki Gudiya propelled him to stardom.
Kumar's 1965 thriller Gumnaam was one of the highest-grossing movies of that year, collecting ₹2.6 crores. In the same year, he starred in Shaheed, which explored the life of the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Kumar acted in many patriotic films like Upkaar (1967), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970) and Kranti (1981).
Kumar also ventured into filmmaking. His 1975 film Roti Kapada Aur Makaan won him a 'Best Director' Filmfare. He earned the Padma Shri in 1992, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015. Kumar also joined politics with the Bharatiya Janata Party before the 2004 general elections.
Manoj Kumar was married to Shashi Goswami, whom he met at a friend's house during his college days in Delhi, according to a 2013 interview with Dainik Jagran. According to reports, Shashi once received acting offers but did not accept them. She worked in some radio plays, according to IMDb. They have two sons, Kunal and Vishal.
Tributes for the actor
Soon after the news of Manoj Kumar's demise broke, social media was flooded with tributes for the iconic actor. Many prominent dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Rajnath Singh, also expressed their condolences. The film industry also mourned the loss of the "unforgettable" actor.
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