Manoj Kumar

Description:

Manoj Kumar, born Harikrishna Giri Goswami, is an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter best known for his work in Hindi films.

Born in Abbottabad, a small town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan), he and his family shifted to Delhi during the Partition.

Kumar made his film debut with Fashion (1957). He then got his break in Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961), where he acted with Sayeeda Khan.

After acting in Reshmi Rumal (1961) and Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961), Kumar was cast opposite Mala Sinha in Vijay Bhatt's Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962).

He continued to rule the roost with films, including Apna Banake Dekho (1962) and Nakli Nawab (1962).

He also acted in social films, including Grahasti (1963) and Apne Huye Paraye (1964).

In 1964, Kumar appeared in Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi? (1964) with Sadhana Shivdasani. He worked alongside Mala Sinha and Vijay Bhatt again in Himalay Ki Godmein (1965).

Kumar and Khosla built upon their joint success with Do Badan (1966), which became a success. In this film, Kumar was cast opposite Asha Parekh.

His thriller, Gumnaam (1965), was another box office hit, and it was one of the highest-grossing movies that year, earning Rs. 2.6 crores. In the same year, Kumar starred in the film Shaheed (1965), which explored the life of the great freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh.

He also played pivotal roles in classics such as Sawan Ki Ghata (1966) and Patthar Ke Sanam (1967).

In 1967, he forayed into film direction with Upkar (1967), where he starred as a farmer and a soldier. This film won multiple awards at the Filmfare Awards 1968, including Best Story, Best Dialogue, Best Director, and Best Film.

Kumar followed up his success with more films such as Aadmi (1968), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), and Be-Imaan (1972). He also directed and acted in Shor (1972).

Kumar acted in and directed Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) and won the Best Director award at the Filmfare Awards in 1975.

He then went on to appear in more classics, including Sanyasi (1975); Pehchan (1975), wherein he starred opposite Babita Kapoor; and Dus Numbri (1976).

He directed Dilip Kumar, his idol, in the film Kranti (1981), which explored the Indian struggle for Independence.

Post Kranti, Kumar acted in films such as Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987), Clerk (1989), and Maidan-E-Jung (1995). He also directed Kunal Goswami, his son, in Jai Hind (1999).

Kumar was conferred the title of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992. He also received The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for his work spanning four decades; the Bharat Gaurav Award in New Jersey, U.S., in 2012; and The Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016

Overview

Birthday July 24, 1937

Born In Abbottabad, North-West Frontier Province, British India

Height 185 cm

Parents H.L. Goswami

Children Kunal Goswami

Relatives Lekhraj Bhakri (Cousin)

Did you know

Trivia Had a complicated working relationship with actress Asha Parekh. They started out in films in the late 1950s, but she became a huge star before he did. She used her influence to have him cast as her hero in Apna Banake Dekho (1962), even though he was still an unknown. During production, she encouraged his interest in writing and directing as well. The film didn't do well, but Asha agreed to work with him again in Do Badan (1966), and the film became a hit. Impressed with her acting ability, he cast her in Upkar (1967), where he was not only the hero but also the writer and director. He shushed Asha when she complained about the number of takes for a very early morning shot. She got upset and stopped talking to him. Nevertheless, Manoj thought she looked beautiful in the film. She didn't attend the film's premiere, even though the film's critical and box office success raised her asking price. However, she agreed to act with Manoj in their last film together Sajan (1969) at which time they started talking again. In 2009, she referred to him as a "very intelligent person". And in 2012, he attended her 70th birthday party, where he held her hands publicly. It was considered a big deal, since he was famous for keeping a physical distance from all his heroines out of respect for his wife Shashi. No matter how complicated the professional relationship was, Asha always maintained a private friendship with Manoj and his wife that lasted close to 60 years. In 2017, he fondly remembered her: "She was the only one who called to wish me on the night of my wedding in Delhi and invited Shashi and me for lunch back in Mumbai. My wife and she continue to be friends and she's like family".

Nickname Bharat Kumar