Manoj Kumar, Indian Actor-Director Known for Patriotic and Social Themes, Dies at 87

Manoj Kumar, the Indian actor-filmmaker best known for infusing the country with a brand of fervent nationalism through films like “Upkar” and “Purab Aur Paschim,” died April 4 in Mumbai. He was 87. He died of a heart attack caused by cardiogenic shock.

Born Harikrishan Goswami in Abbottabad (then British India, now Pakistan), Kumar and his family relocated to Delhi after the Partition. He studied at Hindu College, Delhi University, before entering the film industry in the late 1950s.

After early screen roles in “Kaanch Ki Gudiya” (1961), “Hariyali Aur Raasta” (1962), and “Woh Kaun Thi?” (1964), Kumar’s performance as freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in “Shaheed” (1965) established him as a serious dramatic presence. But it was “Upkar” (1967)— a film he directed and starred in, inspired by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” (hail soldier, hail farmer) — that cemented his on-screen persona as the face of patriotic cinema.

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Nicknamed “Bharat Kumar” (India Kumar) for his commitment to patriotic themes, Kumar continued to explore Indian identity and social issues in a string of self-directed hits throughout the 1970s. “Purab Aur Paschim” (1970), “Shor” (1972), and “Roti Kapda Aur Makaan” (1974) became cultural touchstones, blending mainstream storytelling with sharp commentary.

In 1981, he directed “Kranti” — a multi-starrer period drama about the Indian freedom movement that became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of the decade.

Kumar received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 1992. The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award followed in 1999. In 2015, he was accorded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s highest film honor.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: “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.”