ASFANDYAR Magazine

Manoj Kumar, also lovingly known as Bharat Kumar has carved a niche for himself in Indian cinema. His movies served the right blend of patriotism, romance, and social commentary. His legacy spans decades, with films that not only entertained but also inspired generations. Films like Woh Kaun Thi, Shor, Be-Imaan and more have made him a formidable actor in the industry. Interestingly, he also starred in a movie titled Jatt Punjabi, which became a huge regional hit. We remember the late actor by taking you through a list of his 10 best films. These classics continue to be binge-watched by the newer generation. They truly define one of the best eras of Bollywood.

Woh Kaun Thi? (1964)

Director: Raj Khosla

Cast: Sadhana Shivdasani, Manoj Kumart, Parveen Choudhary, Prem Chopra and Helen.

Directed by Raj Khosla, Woh Kaun Thi? is a haunting romantic thriller that has showcased Manoj Kumar’s versatility as an actor. The late actor plays Dr. Anand, who picks up a young woman at the side of the road. She asks to be dropped off at a graveyard. Anand’s mother later reveals that she has arranged a marriage for her son and his wife-to-be is the young woman whom he met on that night. The film is remembered for its suspenseful narrative and Lata Mangeshkar’s unforgettable melodies like Lag Ja Gale.

Shaheed (1965)

Director: S. Ram Sharma

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Prem Chopra, Nirupa Ray, Karan Dewan, Manmohan and Madan Puri

Shaheed features Manoj Kumar as the legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. His powerful portrayal of the freedom fighter earned him immense acclaim. The film’s patriotic fervor and soul-stirring songs like Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna made it a cult classic.

Gumnaam (1965)

Director: Raja Nawathe

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Nanda, Mehmood, Pran, Tarun Bose, Dhumal, Manmohan and Madan Puri.

The suspense thriller, Gumnaam, is one of Manoj Kumar’s best movies. It remains a fan favorite for its gripping storyline. Some guests are stranded on a mysterious island. The atmosphere becomes eerie when the host or the island’s owner are nowhere to be found. An unknown and vengeful person begins killing the guests one after the other.

Upkar (1967)

Director: Manoj Kumar

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Kanhaiyalal, Asha Parekh, Prem Chopra, David Abraham Cheulkar, Manmohan Krishna, Pran and Manmohan

Manoj Kumar starred in and directed Upkar. It is set in the backdrop of the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965. It explores the contributions of farmers and soldiers to India. A defining film in Manoj Kumar’s career, Upkar marked his transformation into a filmmaker. Inspired by Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan,” Kumar played both soldier and farmer. After the movie’s release, the song Mere Desh Ki Dharti became an anthem of patriotism. Interestingly, the actor also started being known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ after the film’s release. Manoj Kumar and team received Best Film, Best Director, Best Story and Best Dialogue awards at Filmfare Awards for the acclaimed movie.

Neel Kamal (1968)

Director: Ram Maheshwari

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Waheeda Rehman and Raaj Kumar

Neel Kamal is a reincarnation drama, starring Manoj Kumar, Waheeda Rehman and Raaj Kumar. Manoj Kumar plays the role of Ram, who rescues Sita (Waheeda Rehman). Ram and Sita eventually get married but Sita displays very strange behaviour, like walking away during the night for long durations. Ram finds out more about Sita’s sleepwalking, which is related to someone else from one of her previous births. Manoj Kumar’s role as the caring husband was lauded by audiences and critics alike.

Purab Aur Pacchim (1970)

Director: Manoj Kumar

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Pran, Ashok Kumar, Saira Banu, Nirupa Roy and Prem Chopra

Purab Aur Pacchim is a movie that opens up on pitting Indian values against Western influence. The story follows Bharat (Manoj Kumar), who hails from a traditional Indian family. He is sent to London by his father, who hopes that exposure to the western world will allow him to improve his career prospects. However, upon arriving in London, Bharat is shocked to witness the stark contrast between his values and the westernised lifestyle that his fellow countrymen are now living.

Shor (1972)

Director: Manoj Kumar

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Nanda Karnataki, Jaya Bachchan, Satyajeet, Naaz, Prem Nath and Kamini Kaushal

Shankar (Manoj Kumar) is a mill worker, who has a happy life with his wife Geeta (Nanda Karnataki) and son Deepak (Satyajeet). A tragic accident kills Geeta. The shock of it damages Deepak’s vocal cords. Shankar helps Deepak regain his ability to talk. He can’t afford the cost of Deepak’s surgery and keeps trying. Shankar’s mom (Kamini Kaushal), sister (Naaz), Khan Badshan (Prem Nath) and Rani (Jaya Bachchan) offer support. The movie is also known for the classic song, Ek Pyaar Ka Naghma Hai.

Be-Imaan (1972)

Director: Sohanlal Kanwar

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Raakhee, Premnath, Pran and Prem Chopra

Manoj Kumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Be-Imaan. It explores redemption and morality through a well-crafted story. Shyam (Manoj Kumar) and Sapna (Rakhee Gulzar) love each other and want to tie the knot. However, Sapna’s father opposes their alliance. He actively puts his influence at work to persuade Sapna to break up with Shyam.

Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974)

Director: Manoj Kumar

Cast: Manoj Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Zeenat Aman, Moushumi Chatterjee and Prem Nath

The film centers around Vikram (played by Manoj Kumar). He struggles to make a living and provide for his family. He works hard but faces troubling times and constant setbacks. Throughout the film, Vikram deals with poverty, corruption, and social injustice. His aim is to ensure that his family has a better life with enough roti (food), kapda (clothing), and makaan (shelter). Manoj Kumar also won the Best Director award for the movie at the Filmfare Awards.

Kranti (1981)

Director: Manoj Kumar

Cast: Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Parveen Babi and Hema Malini

Manoj Kumar directed and starred in Kranti. A multi-starrer magnum opus, it marked a patriotic comeback for him as both actor and director. The movie also features Dilip Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Parveen Babi, Hema Malini and more. The film was a massive box office success and rekindled national pride.

See Also: Legendary actor Manoj Kumar passes away at 87

Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar passed away in Mumbai today. As per reports, he suffered cardiogenic shock after an acute myocardial infarction. He was 87. He leaves behind a rich legacy of memorable performances and landmark films that continue to influence Hindi cinema. As the film industry and fans mourn his loss, we’re taking a look at some of his most memorable on-screen pairings with leading heroines.

Manoj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman

Manoj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman’s chemistry certainly left a mark. The two first came together for the 1967 released romantic film Patthar Ke Sanam. The film also featured Pran and Mumtaz. They later starred together in the 1968 film Neel Kamal, a paranormal thriller. Their performances in the hit film, as Ram and Sita, won over critics and fans alike. They elevated each other’s performances in an ensemble alongside Dilip Kumar, Simi Garewal and Pran in the 1968 hit Aadmi.

Manoj Kumar and Saira Banu

Manoj Kumar and Saira Banu starred in three films together and their pairing remains iconic. They first came together for the 1967 film Shaadi. As Raja and Gauri, they showcased their easy chemistry. Saira and Manoj then starred in the 1970 film Purab Aur Paschim. Banu has shared several anecdotes about the film’s making, revealing that Kumar showed his support when she fell sick while shooting. He refused to replace her as his heroine. In an exclusive interview with Filmfare, Manoj Kumar recalled taking Dilip Kumar’s permission to star alongside Saira Banu. “One day, on meeting Dilip saab I said, ‘I need your permission. Can Sairaji act in my film?’” He patted my cheek, looked straight in my eyes and said, “You are the first person who’s asking me.” This remains an emotional moment between us.”

Manoj Kumar and Sadhana

Manoj and Sadhana didn’t just come together for a hit film, but also for one of the most popular songs in Hindi cinema. They featured in the romantic thriller film Woh Kaun Thi? (1964) and the track Lag Jaa Gale was picturised on the pair. Their on-screen chemistry was palpable. They reunited for Anita (1967). Manoj famously recalled meeting Sadhana on a local train journey. “She was sitting near a window with wind blowing her hair across her face. I thought she should be in films. Later, she became a craze and reached the highest pedestal,” the late actor had shared.

Manoj Kumar and Asha Parekh

The late Manoj Kumar and Asha Parekh were a famous on-screen pair in Hindi cinema. They worked together in romantic and emotional films, including the 1966 film Do Badan and the 1969 film Sajan. They also came together for Upkar (1967), which marked Kumar’s directorial debut. The patriotic film is considered one of the actor’s finest works. In an exclusive chat with Filmfare, Manoj Kumar had heaped praise on Parekh. Calling her a “huge star,” he fondly recalled, “Asha had supported me in my early days, and so I offered her Upkar. She had very sharp eyebrows, which you won’t find in Upkar. I was a hard taskmaster and made her stay away from shaping them in that manner. As a person, it’s difficult to define Asha. She was always independent. Even at that age, it was she who looked after her parents. The way she has served them, hats off to her!”

Manoj Kumar and Hema Malini

Manoj Kumar and Hema Malini made a hit onscreen pair. They starred in 6 films together, including Sanyasi (1975), Santosh (1989), Dus Numbri (1976) and Kranti (1981), which Kumar also directed. In a Filmfare interview, Kumar shared that Malini was the closest to his family. “She’d send us idlis and dosas. We’d send across kaali dal. We did Sanyasi, Dus Numbri and Kranti together. Once during Kranti, I told her that I wanted to shoot her at the helipad at 5.10 am. I wanted to capture her in a ‘sunrise’ mood, which marked the change in her character. I zoomed at the sun, she looked at it…shot over. She was very happy with the shot and sent across some idlis,” he said.

Manoj Kumar and Zeenat Aman

Manoj Kumar and Zeenat Aman played the lead roles, Bharat and Sheetal, in the hit 1974 film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, which Kumar also directed. The film went on to become a huge hit, the highest-grossing title of the year. It revolves around a man who is tasked with looking after his family after his father’s demise. Kumar and Aman gave a memorable performance together. Their song together, Main Na Bhoolunga was also a hit.  

See Also: Obituary: Remembering the life and works of Manoj Kumar

Dilip Kumar was the Tragedy King, Raj Kapoor was the Great Showman, and likewise Manoj Kumar was Mr Bharat. It was his dream to make a film on Bhagat Singh. A dream which got fulfilled with Shaheed (1965). The film’s director was S Ram Sharma but according to industry lore, Kumar ghost directed the film. It was written by Batukeshwar Dutt, one of the contemporaries of Bhagat Singh. Kumar’s portrayal of Bhagat Singh is the closest we have come to seeing the revolutionary on screen. It’s said that he spent time with Bhagat Singh’s mother, who reportedly said she feels like she’s seeing her son again after watching him in get-up. He spent four years researching for his role before facing the camera.

Also, he donated the money he received along with his National Award to Bhagat Singh’s family.  It’s said that after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan. The result was his directorial debut, the patriotic drama Upkar (1967). After that, he started working on patriotic/nationalistic films. Purab Aur Paschim (1970) which juxtaposed life in the East and West, proved to be a massive hit. It was shot partially in England and extolled Indians not to give up their culture or westernise their names as they’re setting abroad. Kranti (1981), proved to be the pinnacle of his patriotic success. The film, which co-starred his ideal Dilip Kumar, alongwith Shatrughan Singh, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Parveen Babi, talked about armed resistance against the British and is considered a Golden Jubilee hit. Such was its craze back then that it spawned merchandise, with shops selling Kranti T shirts, caps and more. Besides these films, he also made Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), a multistarrer co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Moushumi Chatterjee and Zeenat Aman about the three basic necessities of life, Food, clothing and shelter, which had a socialist view about the current society, despite the over-the-top treatment, and Shor (1972), an experimental film about revolving around a father’s struggle to make his son speak again, which also delved on urban noise pollution.

But there was more to Manoj Kumar than the Mr Bharat Sobriquet. Like most young men of his era, he was hugely influenced by Dilip Kumar’s histrionics on screen and longed to become a ‘hero’ like his idol. Manoj Kumar was Dilip Kumar’s name in Shabnam (1949) and some say he changed his name from Harikrishan to Manoj, inspired by that.  He fulfilled his dream of doing a film with Dilip Kumar when they were cast together in the love-triangle Aadmi (1968). The film, directed by A Bhimsingh, also co-starred Waheeda Rehman, was a remake of Tamil film Aalayamani (1962). He was also an ardent admirer of Kamini Kaushal and got his wish to work with her when she was cast as his mother in Shaheed. 

Manoj Kumar was born Harikrishan Giri Goswami into a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family in Abbottabad on July 24, 1937, a town in the North-West Frontier Province of British India (now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). At the age of 10, his family relocated from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi in the wake of the Partition. He later attended Hindu College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree before venturing into the world of cinema. He got his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudiya (1961). Success came with Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) and stardom with Raj Khosla’s mystery thriller Woh Kaun Thi (1964), co-starring Sadhana. The film became a superhit, thanks to its tightly woven screenplay and enchanting songs composed by Madan Mohan, including timeless classics like Lag ja gale and Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim, both soulfully sung by Lata Mangeshkar. While the screenplay is credited to Dhruva Chatterjee, it’s said Manoj Kumar extensively rewrote several portions. 

His next outing with Khosla was strangely not a thriller but a three-handkerchief weepy, Do Badan (1966). It’s said to be a reworking of Dilip Kumar starrer Deedar (1951). The film co-starred Asha Parekh as his love interest and Pran as the jealous husband, had songs like Bhari duniya mein aakhir dil ko, Naseeb mein jiske jo likha tha, Raha gardishon mein hardam mere ishq ka sitara, the Ravi compositions all reminiscent of Dilip Kumar’s sad songs. Raj Khoshla and Manoj Kumar did come back together for another suspense thriller Anila (1967), which is said to be a reworking of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958). Gumnaam (1965), released the same year as Shaheed, is another mystery thriller of which he was part of. Directed by Raja Nawathe, the film is based on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The film, which also co-starred Nanda, Pran and Mehmood, among others, was perhaps the first ‘remote island mystery’ in Bollywood and proved to be a superhit. Neel Kamal (1968), where he co-starred with Raaj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman, was a reincarnation thriller directed by Ram Maheshwari. The film became noted for the song, Baabul ki duaayein leti jaa sung by Mohammed Rafi, which became popular as a wedding song during the bidaai rituals. 

Patthar Ke Sanam (1967), Be-Imaan (1972), Sanyasi (1975) and Dus Numbri (1976) were some of his later hits. He also wrote and starred in Shirdi Ke Sai Baba (1977), a film about the life of the spiritual saint Sai Baba. Sudhir Dalvi gave a career best performance as the titular character. After Kranti, he lost his touch as a filmmaker. Clerk (1989) is a deplorable film which currently enjoys the dubious status as a progenitor of many meme fests. His last film as a director Jai Hind (1999) too sank without a trace.  His son, Kunal Goswami, made his debut in Kranti and appeared in a few films before his career gradually faded. The other son, Vishal’s acting career never took off, although he briefly pursued a career as a singer.

The actor was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, where he died at 3:30 am on April 4, 2025 due to Chronic heart-related complications. The secondary cause of death is decompensated liver cirrhosis, as per the medical certificate issued by the hospital. He was the winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016, got a Padma Shri in 1992 and was the recipient of the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. Compared to the other stars of his era, whom he reportedly called ‘greedy actors’ he may have done lesser films but Manoj Kumar nevertheless left an indelible mark in the annals of Hindi cinema. 

Also Read: Manoj Kumar Passes Away: Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar & Others Mourn His Loss

See Also:  Manoj Kumar’s most iconic on-screen pairings: Saira Banu, Hema Malini and more

Akanksha Singh may have been to Hyderabad several times for work, but she recently had the opportunity to explore the topography in the Telugu-speaking states. She shot at Rajahmundry and the surrounding areas of Godavari River for her upcoming film starring Shashtipoorthi written and directed by Pavan Prabha. Akanksha shot for more than 35 days in the island places of the river.

Nestled within the heart of the Godavari River, Akanksha shot for the film at the famous Veerabhadra Swamy temple on a small island. It took around 20 minutes from banks (Rajahmundry) to reach the island by boat…and she had to walk in the sand for another 25 minutes to reach the shooting spot.

“We have to go by boat because it was an island. Walking on the sand and on uneven terrains for more than one kilometre was so tiring, especially when it was hot and humid. Walking and travelling for more than one and a half hours daily by boat used to take a toll. We shot scenes in the boat and it was very difficult at times. It was so exhausting that at one point, I even asked my crew to give me a room in the temple premises because my vanity was parked in Rajahmundry. But there were many incidents during the shoot that will always remain with me.”

Akanksha plays the role of temple treasurer in the family drama. Normally male volunteers would be temple treasurers but she being a woman was what excited to play the part. “That’s the beauty of my role, it has a different spin,” she exults. “I play a proper Telugu girl and my costumes reflect my character – wearing half-sarees, henna on hands, anklets, bindi, big earrings, etc.,” she points out.

The actress has been in an enthusiastic mood on this journey amidst the magical mother nature. She also shared photos of her sightseeing in the famous town. “Travelling by boat on the Godavari River offers marvelous views of the ghats, marine life, sun set and sunrise. The experience of shooting in a pristine environment was therapeutic,” she describes.

On a concluding note, the actress says that sailing in the Godavari is a unique and incredible experience. “As actors, as we travel to different places, we get to embrace new cultures and traditions. Spending time in the river island in nature’s lap was a perfect way to soak into meditating. It is a very tranquilizing experience in natural surroundings,” says Akanksha, signing off. Shashtipoorthi also features Rajendra Prasad, Archana and Rupeysh who is also bankrolling the film.

See Also: Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh party together in Mumbai

Manoj Kumar, lovingly known as Bharat Kumar, passed away on Friday, April 4, at the age of 87. His role as Bharat in Upkar was loved so much by the audiences that he became known by that name. In a lot of his patriotic and nationalist films, he named his character Bharat to live up to the image. Today, we take a look at some of the best performances of the late actor.

Shaheed (1965)

Manoj Kumar played the role of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in this S Ram Sharma directorial, evoking patriotic sentiments in people with his strong performance. For this film, which was released almost two decades after we got our independence, Kumar studied the life of the revolutionary Bhagat Singh and adapted his mannerisms. As a result, people who watched the film connected strongly with his character and the story. Notably, this was the first of the late actor’s series of patriotic films. He shared the screen with Prem Chopra, Anant Marathe, Manmohan, Kamini Kaushal and Nirupa Roy in this film. Prem Chopra perhaps acted in the only ‘positive’ role of his career as the revolutionary Sukdev Thapar.

Upkar (1967)

A farmer can very well turn into a soldier when a nation needs it, and this is what Manoj Kumar proved in Upkar. The late actor also made his directorial debut with this film. He played Bharat, a farmer who sacrifices everything for his brother Puran’s (played by Prem Chopra) education. However, the latter become selfish after getting attracted to city life. At the same time, the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 begins, and Bharat joins it. The was inspired by then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s motto, ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’.  Despite being a patriotic film, it never catered to jingoism of any sort. The title Bharat Kumar was given to him after the massive success of Upkar. He even won four Filmfare Awards for Upkar.

Purab Aur Pachhim (1970)

Purab Aur Pachhim made him Mr. Bharat in the true sense. As the name suggests, Purab Aur Pachhim (East and West) portrays the cultural difference and clash of values between the East and the West that occurred as a result of the British Raj in India. Bharat (played by Kumar) is a patriotic person, and despite going to England, never succumbs to the Western values. He holds Indian values very close to his heart, extolling the virtues of Indian tradition to the NRIs settled there. How he manages to convince his love interest Preeti (Saira Banu) to let go of the western practices and become truly Indian forms the crux of the story.  Kumar’s portrayal of a man who is unabashedly Indian got him the title of Mr. Bharat.  

Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974)

Roti Kapda Aur Makaan was one of the best of its era and the themes continue to stay relevant to date. While Upkar was inspired by Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan, this film was inspired by Indira Gandhi’s Garibi Hatao slogan. Kumar played an idealistic youth and, by example and practice, managed to fight against corruption. He convinces his brothers to join his fight as well. Despite the presence of other stars in the film, such as Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Dheeraj Kumar, Zeenat Aman and Moushumi Chatterjee, he managed to shine as a performer. Kumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for this film.

Kranti (1981)

Kranti turned out to be the biggest blockbuster when it was released and is one of the top 10 highest-grossing Indian films of all time. The cult classic was produced, edited and directed by Kumar, who also wrote the dialogues. Salim-Javed wrote the story and screenplay. Set in 19th century British India, the film shows India’s struggle to get independence. It was inspired by the 1857 armed struggles of Indian soldiers against the British. He plays Dilip Kumar’s (Sanga) son Bharat, who takes his father’s mantle and continues the arms struggle perpetuated by Sanga. He fights the British till his last breath. Hyper nationalism was evident in Kumar’s acting, and he matched his idol Dilip Kumar frame to frame. Besides Manoj and Dilip, the film also starred Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini and Parveen Babi, among others.

See Also: Manoj Kumar Passes Away: Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar & Others Mourn His Loss