Veteran actor Manoj Kumar, who died earlier this month and was given a befitting State honour by the Maharashtra Government, was a patient man. This octogenarian actor, affectionately called Bharat Kumar, seemed almost hermit-like. But when Manoj Kumar, whose very name evoked a feeling of nationalism among school children growing up in 1980s and 1990s, was humiliated, he came across as a wounded tiger. This humiliation happened only once in his long illustrious career. He was horrified to see that Shah Rukh Khan had the audacity to lampoon him in his epoch-making film Om Shanti Om. One of the characters, enacted by SRK himself, was imitating him.
However, that character did a bad job of copying the veteran actor. Had any other actor or perhaps those who do blink and miss kind of roles done it then the veteran actor would not have retaliated. But Shah Rukh Khan decided to ridicule Manoj Kumar. This was too much to swallow for the legendary actor, who was rightfully called Bharat Kumar.
In the film that was released across the country in 2007, Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Om Prakash Makhija, was shown entering the premier of a film theatre by using a pass belonging to Manoj Kumar. The police failed to recognise him but the film going audience did as Shah Rukh Khan did a spoof of Manoj Kumar’s signature facepalm gesture. Later in the film, SRK’s character was shooed away by the guards.
Ideally speaking, the entire drama off the camera that followed after the film’s screening should have shocked the film fraternity. But those who were in good books of Dharma Productions or Farah Khan or SRK, chose to ignore this unsavoury episode.
In hindsight, it seemed as if the makers had decided to ridicule and embarrass Manoj Kumar. It was too much to swallow for the aged actor, who was confined to a chair in the twilight years of his life. His pride in his lineage and the fact that he was known as Bharat Kumar in the film industry for decades was a bit too much.
Conspiracy to Humiliate
Admitting that he was hurt, Manoj Kumar said, “Shah Rukh Khan has injured my soul. It’s a conspiracy to humiliate and ridicule me. This is not filmmaking…My devotion to filmdom for the last 50 years has been insulted.”
The veteran actor had then also demanded Rs 1 as damages in the defamation suit.
Interestingly, Manoj Kumar’s lineage can be traced to the earlier pre-Partition days of undivided India. The six feet one inch tall Manoj Kumar, who was a Punjabi Brahmin, was born in North West Frontier Province, bordering Afghanistan.
He spoke only once about his lineage. But that was when he was hurt by Shah Rukh Khan.
On a lighter vein and in an indirect tone, Manoj Kumar questioned the lineage of Shah Rukh Khan, who is proud of his Pathan ancestors of Peshawar. “He (SRK) is a Pathan but he was raised in Delhi, while I was born in North West Frontier Province (NWFP),” he said.
Insulted Again
The controversy surrounding the scene that was disrespectful to Manoj Kumar in the film Om Shanti Om refused to die. It resurfaced in 2013. Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om was released in Japanese cities, where Hindi films are quite popular. However, the controversial scene of Manoj Kumar was intact. This insult was too much for the veteran actor, who sought legal action, demanding Rs 100 crore in damages from Shah Rukh Khan for not removing the scene.
Extremely offended that the actor showed no remorse for his action, Manoj Kumar decided to send Shah Rukh Khan a legal defamation suit. This was done after the actor and his Director Farah Khan did not offer an apology to him. Best thing would have been to apologise which Shah Rukh Khan, for reasons best known to him, failed to do.
Belated Apology
It was only after Manoj Kumar’s death that the belated apology came from Shah Rukh Khan. Taking to his official X handle, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, “Manoj Kumar ji made films that uplifted our country, our cinema, and focused on unity with unmatched sincerity. A legend in every sense. His films shaped an era and left a mark on our cinema. Thank you, sir. You will always be ‘Bharat’ to us.”
However, Shah Rukh Khan’s words did not match his action. It was sad to see that neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Farah Khan attended the funeral of Manoj Kumar. Sajid Khan, real brother of Farah, came for the funeral.
Saving Grace
Fortunately, the Hindi film industry did not ignore him. Amitabh Bachchan, who like Manoj Kumar is an octogenarian, was sporting enough to come to the crematorium centre.
Sharing an old black-and-white picture featuring himself and the veteran actor, Amitabh Bachchan recently took to his blog. In the picture, a laughing Manoj Kumar can be seen wrapping his arm around a lanky Amitabh. Amitabh held him and smiled, looking away from the camera. He wrote, “In remembrance… and prayer (folded hands emoji) in grief.”
Perfect Homage from He Man
Borrowing a leaf from Amitji, Dharmendra, former MP from BJP representing Bikaner constituency, too remembered Manoj Kumar with a post.
Taking to his Instagram, Dharmedra posted an old photo featuring the duo. They seemingly held a trophy while smiling. Dharmendra was seen in a white shirt, red tie and grey suit, while Manoj Kumar wore a white shirt and trousers.
Sharing the picture, Dharmendra captioned the post, Manoj, mere yaar tere saath beeta har pal bahut yaad ayega (Manoj, my friend, I will remember every moment spent with you). Interestingly, Manoj Kumar was always encouraging a spirit of enquiry among the youth. His passions included Science, Sanskrit and spirituality. His fans considered themselves fortunate to interact with him on several occasions, both in Bharat and overseas. His ideological clarity and meticulous style of working always stood out.
Importantly, 1965 was perhaps the best year for Manoj Kumar. He became an overnight star with Shaheed that was based on the life of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. “Bhagat Singh’s mother blessed me before I enacted the role of nation’s son,” said Manoj Kumar, in one of his televised interviews. The film was such a huge hit that even then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri appreciated it.
After the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Shastriji asked him to make a film based on his popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan. It resulted in his directorial debut with Upkar. This 1967 patriotic drama topped the box office chart. His versatility could be seen from his ability to make himself the most bankable star whether it was romantic drama Himalay Ki God Mein and mystery thriller Gumnaam.
Like many actors of his time, especially those who came from undivided Bharat which is now known as Pakistan, success to him did not come by easy. He had to struggle though the way to the top.
His debut film Fashion was released in 1957. It was followed by flop appearances in multiple films like Sahara (1958), Chand (1959) and Honeymoon (1960). All these romantic capers tanked at the box office. Perhaps the tall brooding Manoj Kumar was not meant for such roles.
Initial Struggle
Life was not a bed of roses for Manoj Kumar. It was initially pretty tough. As an actor, who was born in undivided Bharat, he knew what his fellow Bharatiyas had been through during the turbulent phase of Partition. Even he lost everything and had to start life from scratch.
Fortunately, lady luck smiled on him when he landed up his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudiya in 1961. From then on Manoj Kumar never looked back.
Since taking sanyas (retirement) from films, Manoj Kumar was living by himself as he kept himself away from attending film functions.
Known as a reticent personality, those who knew him well vouch for his affability and down to earth nature. With an eye for detail, Manoj Kumar kept contact with certain film families and was accessible to his innumerable fans across the world. It was astonishing how he could remember names of everyone in each family of his co-actors and even technicians. He would enquire about everybody.
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