Kunal Goswami, the son of the late actor Manoj Kumar, openly spoke about his father's friendship with the late Raj Kapoor and their mutual admiration for the classic film Mera Naam Joker during an interview with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel. It is evident that Raj Kapoor's ambitious film from 1970 was a true labor of love for both the director and Manoj Kumar.

Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar's friendship

RajKapoor and Manoj shared a deep friendship, with Manoj gaining recognition as "Bharat Kumar" due to his collection of patriotic films. Kunal remembered that his father had proposed to edit the latter part of the film in a bid to salvage it during its release, as Mera Naam Joker had turned out to be a financial failure.

He disclosed that a discussion took place between Kapoor and Kumar. Kunal learned from his father that if he were to edit the latter part of the film, it might change its overall framework. However, he is uncertain whether this actually happened. His father mentioned that the conversation revolved around editing rather than directing.

He categorically denied that Kumar had directed any scenes in the film, questioning, "Why would he (Manoj) take on the role of director?" Kapoor was outstanding, and many admired him; Kunal was perpetually impressed by his talent.

Proposal to re-edit Mera Naam Joker

 The unconventional three-part film Mera Naam Joker tells the story of a clown who conceals his own sorrow by bringing joy to others. With a runtime exceeding four hours, the film was presented in two segments. Raj Kapoor took on multiple roles as the director, producer, and lead actor. The cast included a host of talented performers such as Rishi Kapoor, Simi Garewal, Dharmendra, and Manoj Kumar.

Despite its eventual status as a cult classic, the film's initial commercial failure nearly led to the financial ruin of the esteemed RK Studios.

Kunal said that the film was just as close to his heart as it was to Kapoor, adding that it became a special film for everyone who was involved due to its failure.

Clarifying Manoj Kumar's role in the film's making

Kumar He had earlier shared his personal involvement in the film. Along with revising the opening story of the anthology, he acknowledged that he had also written a few lines for his character.

The seasoned actor took it upon himself to rewrite the first chapter of this trilogy purely for enjoyment, showing no desire for fame or financial gain. Kumar chose not to take credit for the writing and instead financed his own travel and accommodation. His tribute to Raj Kapoor, whom he referred to as his "karmayogi," was Mera Naam Joker. Kumar had previously mentioned that the term "awara" translates to "khushboo" in Urdu, emphasizing that the "fragrance" of Kapoor still lingers in their memories today.

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