Veteran Bollywood star Manoj Kumar, also known as “Bharat” Kumar for his nationalist and patriotic films like Purab Aur Paschim, Upkar and Kranti, was on Friday chosen for the prestigious Dadasaheb Ph
Veteran Bollywood star Manoj Kumar, also known as “Bharat” Kumar for his nationalist and patriotic films like Purab Aur Paschim, Upkar and Kranti, was on Friday chosen for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest official recognition in Indian cinema.
The 78-year-old actor becomes the 47th recipient of the award, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of '10 lakhs and a shawl, a government statement said. Kumar’s name was unanimously recommended by a five-member jury consisting of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh and Anup Jalota. Best known for his films Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi , Himalaya Ki Godh Mein, Do Badan, Upkar, Patthar Ke Sanam, Purab Aur Paschim, Shaheed, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Kranti, Kumar became popular as “Bharat Kumar” thanks to his patriotic dramas.
Kumar said the announcement came as a surprise and he thought it was a joke. “I am very happy to receive this honour from the government. I did not expect it. I was sleeping when Ashoke Pandit called me. I couldn’t believe it initially, I thought he was fooling me. He asked me to watch TV so that’s how I learnt about it,” Manoj Kumar told agencies. “I will go to Delhi to receive the award,” he said.
When asked whether he thought the honour had come late, he said, “I don’t want to get into this. I always believe in working hard... I don’t think about the results.”
The actor has been away from the limelight but he said he has been working on a movie on Aryabhatta, the renowned mathematician.
Kumar was born Harikrishna Giri Goswami in Abbottabad, then a part of undivided India. At the age of 10, his family shifted to Delhi. He graduated from Hindu College and decided to make a career in show business.
The actor got his first big break in 1960 with Kaanch Ki Gudia, but it was Hariyali Aur Raasta that established him. He went on to star in romantic hits like Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Do Badan, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan and Sawan Ki Ghata.
The actor later shifted his focus to films with patriotic themes by acting in Shaheed, which was based on the life of Bhagat Singh. Kumar made his directorial debut with Upkar, which is said to be inspired by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s popular slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”.
His other films that explore the idea of patriotic duty include Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Kranti, in which he got a chance to work with his idol Dilip Kumar.
Kumar’s career started to decline after Kranti. He quit acting after his appearance in the 1995 film Maidan-e-Jung, but returned as a director to launch his son, Kunal Goswami, in the 1999 film Jai Hind which had a patriotic theme. The film, however, did not do well at the box office.
The actor won a National Film Award for Upkar and was honoured with the Padma Shri by in 1992. Anupam Kher congratulated Kumar: “Congratulations Manoj Kumar Ji for Dada Saheb Phalke Award. Your films taught us what it means to love your country. Jai Ho. Patriotism.”
Director Madhur Bhandarkar wrote, “Congratulations to the veteran actor/filmmaker Manoj Kumarji for prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Much deserving.” Recent Dadasaheb Phalke winners include iconic names like Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Soumitra Chatterjee and Mrinal Sen.
