Veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar passed away on Friday at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital at the age of 87. Reports indicate that he succumbed to cardiogenic shock triggered by an acute myocardial infarction. He had also been battling decompensated liver cirrhosis for several months, which severely affected his health. Kumar was hospitalized on February 21 after his condition worsened, according to ANI.

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit described him as a "legendary Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, an inspiration, and the 'lion' of the Indian film industry," calling his demise a great loss. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, stating that Manoj Kumar was an icon of Indian cinema, known for his patriotic themes, and that his work would continue to inspire future generations.

Born Harikrishnan Goswami in 1937 in Abbottabad, British India (now in Pakistan), Kumar debuted in Bollywood with Fashion (1957) and gained recognition with Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961). His 1965 thriller Gumnaam became a major box office success, earning ₹2.6 crore. That same year, his portrayal of Bhagat Singh in Shaheed solidified his reputation in patriotic cinema.

Nicknamed ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his contributions to patriotic films, he starred in classics like Purab Aur Pachhim (1970) and Kranti (1981) and also directed Shor (1972). In 1975, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for Roti Kapada Aur Makaan. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.

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