Manoj Kumar

Manoj Kumar begins his journey in Bollywood as an Extra! After completing his graduation from Delhi’s Hindu College, University, Manoj Kumar came to Mumbai to try his luck in films. However, unlike other film stars who ran away to Mumbai, Manoj Kumar took his parents’ permission. In Mumbai, he had his uncle and aunty who sheltered him. But recalling his days in Mumbai Manoj Kumar said. “I had sometimes even slept on railway platforms and also received thrashing from policemen because when I would be late the doors of my uncle’s house would be closed.” After a hard struggle,e Manoj Kumar finally got work in cinema as an extra. His first film was Fashion in which he was given an extra role of a 90-year-old beggar when he was just 19 years old!!! A few more movies followed like Meena Kumari’s Sahara, Balraj Sahni’s Chand etc. Manoj Kumar begs his first hero film Manoj Kumar was first introduced as a hero by eminent filmmaker H.S. Rawail, who made hit films like Mere Mehboob (1963), Sunghursh (1968), Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971) and Laila Majnu (1976). What is interesting is that H.S.Rawail after a hat trick of hit films like Pocket Maar and Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja with Dev Anand and Shararat with Raaj Kumar and Meena Kumari decided to make a surprise low-budget film with newcomers. He happened to meet Manoj Kumar and was impressed by his dashing personality. He introduced Manoj Kumar as a hero in his film Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961) opposite Sayeeda Khan. The film was a flop but it helped Manoj Kumar acquire a few films like Reshmi Rumal, Dr. Vidya, Shaadi etc. Manoj Kumar gets his first Hit film With a string of flops Manoj Kumar was in dilemma and was labelled a jinx actor. It was a difficult phase for Manoj Kumar when fortunately movie legend Vijay Bhatt decided to take a gamble on him. It may be remembered here that Vijay Bhat was known for casting upcoming heroes but his trump card used to be popular music and all his films were successful thanks to super hit music. Like Bharat Bhushan in Baiju Bawara(music by Nushad); Rajendra Kumar (Music Vasant Desai) hence in his film Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) Bhatt signed Manoj Kumar as a hero but the film had music by Shankar Jaikishan. Like always the movie had all hit songs like Teri Yaad Dil Se Bhulaane Chala Hoon...; Bol Meri Taqdeer Mein Kya Hai....Allah Jaane Kya Hoga Aage... Yeh Hariyali Aur Yeh Rasta…. The movie was a huge hit and it made Manoj Kumar a star! What followed was a chain of hit films like Woh Kaun Thi?, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Gumnaam, Do Badan, Sawan Ki Ghata, Sajan, Patthar Ke Sanam etc. How seeds of patriotism were sowed in Manoj Kumar When Manoj Kumar was young about 15 years old his uncle died. There was mourning and sorrow in the house but the next morning his father asked young Manoj to wear new clothes and come along with him. He was confused and could not understand where his father was taking him. Like an obedient son, he went along but within his heart, there was grief of his late uncle. They reached their destination. It was the historic Red Fort. Recalling the incident Manoj Kumar says, “Though every Independence Day is important it was the First Independence Day of India and I saw Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, raise the flag of independent India in Delhi. My father told me, Son, we can control our emotions but we must be a part of the joy of our country’s Independence Day. That day I learned the true value of patriotism and preserved it all my life.” Manoj Kumar’s Inclination to Patriotism and Clean Cinema The first patriotic film of Manoj Kumar as an actor was Shaheed (1965). It is based on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's life and Manoj Kumar suited the character of Bhagat Singh to a perfect T. The movie won the National Film Awards as Best Hindi Film the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and the award for Best Screenplay for B. K. Dutt and Din Dayal Sharma. The movie was applauded by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who encouraged him to make Upkar. The success of Upkar(1967) led to many patriotic films like Purab Aur Paschim (1968), Kranti etc. Manoj Kumar also experimented with social themes such as Shor (1972) and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974). Manoj Kumar also acted in movies that were message-oriented and attacked the wrong doings like Yaadgaar (attacked Corrupt politicians), Pehchan (attacked Modern culture), Be-Imaan (attacked Smugglers), Sanyasi (attacked fraud religious Gurus), Dus Numberi (Attacked the notorious crime