Throughout his career, Kumar was sometimes directed to perform films focused on unity and national pride.
Indian actor Manoj Kumar is known for his role in Hindi films with patriotic themes and died at the age of 87.
Kumar died in Mumbai on Friday due to heart-related complications, his son Kunal Goswami told India’s ANI News Agency.
“He had long had health-related issues. It is God’s grace that he peacefully gave adieu to this world. His cremation will happen tomorrow. [Saturday]Goswami said.
Throughout his career, Kumar was known for performing and sometimes directing films focused on unity and national pride. For this reason he was often called “Bharat” Kumar. This is a reference to the ancient Sanskrit language for India.
Born to Harikrishan Goswami, he renamed himself in the Bollywood tradition and named him Manoj Kumar.
He made his debut in Indian films in the late 1950s and appeared in several films, including Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), and Kranti (1981).
Kumar has won several national awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor for film.
He was also a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi called Kumar the “icon” of Indian cinema, saying that he “continues to inspire the spirit of national pride and stimulates generations.”
Indian President Droupadi Murmu posted on X, “I am saddened by the end of the legendary actor and filmmaker.”
“He left an indelible mark in Indian films,” she wrote.
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar said in his respect that he “grown up learning from him that there is no feeling of love or pride for our country.”
“And if our actors don’t lead to showing this sentiment, who would be “such a respectable person, and one of our greatest assets of our fraternity,” Akshay Kumar posted on X.
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