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Manoj Kumar Dies: Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar died on Friday ( April 4) at the age of 87. The stalwart of Indian cinema breathed his last at 4:03 am at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The legendary actor was affectionately known as "Bharat Kumar" for his portrayal of patriotic roles in several movies.


PM Modi pays tributes to legendary actor

Soon after the news about his death spread, a flood of messages, paying tributes to the legendary actor started pouring in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the stalwart, sharing his fond memories with the actor on X. PM Modi shared his pictures with the actor.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films. Manoj Ji's works ignited a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," PM Modi wrote on x.

Actor Manoj Kumar Vs Indira Government

The actor is not only known for his contributions to the Indian cinema, but also for taking a stand against the 'Emergency' imposed by the Indira government in 1975. The actor incurred a big loss when he opposed the Emergency.

Though everything was fine between Manoj Kumar and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, but when the Emergency was announced, the actor opposed it, which irked the government.

Kumar's film banned

Several films of artists who opposed the emergency were banned. Kumar's films also came under fire. His film 'Dus Numbri' was banned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Not only this, his film 'Shor' - which Kumar directed, produced and acted in - was not even released in theatres. It was streamed on Doordarshan before the release and the result was that when the film was released in theatres, the audience did not come to watch it and the film flopped.

Kumar won a case against the government

Kumar is one of the very few actors who won a case against the government. The actor moved court against the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after it banned his film - 'Shor'. He made rounds of the court for several weeks, but at the end the decision came in his favour.

Actor turns down ministry's offer

Later, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting offered him to make a film on 'Emergency', but Kumar rejected it.

Manoj Kumar was often called "Bharat Kumar"

Manoj Kumar is fondly called "Bharat Kumar" by his fans for his patriotic and nationalist film roles, particularly in movies like "Upkar," "Purab Aur Pachhim," and "Kranti." These films portrayed his characters' love and dedication to the country, earning him the nickname "Bharat Kumar," which means "Son of India."

ALSO READ: Manoj Kumar Death: How Legendary Actor Became ‘Bharat Kumar’ Of Hindi Cinema | An Unusual Story Of Bollywood

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