Manoj Kumar, the iconic actor and director, passed away at the age of 87. Nearly ten years ago, he shared with Hindustan Times that he had contributed the full sum he received for the National Award for his 1965 film Shaheed to the family of Bhagat Singh.

When Manoj Kumar spoke about donating Nation Award money

The late actor received his first national award for scriptwriting for the film Shaheed in 1965, followed by another award in 1967 for the patriotic movie Upkar. In a conversation with HT in 2016, he remarked, “I contributed the entire prize money from my national award for Shaheed to the family of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. While awards provide a sense of fulfillment to any creative individual, I am pleased that the government has finally acknowledged my efforts.”

Shaheed, a patriotic film directed by S Ram Sharma, features not only Manoj but also Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri, and Anwar Hussain. The film is centered around the life of Bhagat Singh.

During the same interview, he recounted his encounter with Satyajit Ray, discussing Upkar with him. “At an international film festival in Delhi, I had the opportunity to meet Manikda (Satyajit Ray). I inquired if he had seen my film, Upkar. He acknowledged that he had but described it as melodramatic. I smiled and asked him if the thunderstorm scene in his own film Charulata (1964), when Soumitra Chattarjee sees Madhabi Mukherjee, was not melodramatic as well? With a fond pat, Manikda admitted that I had caught him! There will never be anyone quite like Manikda, even today,” he shared.

About Manoj Kumar

Manoj, fondly referred to as 'Bharat Kumar', passed away at 4:03 AM on Friday at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. Medical reports indicate that his death resulted from cardiogenic shock caused by an acute myocardial infarction, a critical heart attack. Additionally, the reports revealed that Manoj had been struggling with decompensated liver cirrhosis in the preceding months, which had adversely affected his health. He was admitted to the hospital on February 21, 2025, following a deterioration in his condition.

More about Manoj Kumar's career, honours

Throughout his career, Manoj gained recognition for his acting and directing in films that celebrated national pride and unity. His memorable performances in movies like Shaheed, Upkar, and Rang De Basanti struck a chord with the patriotic feelings of the Indian audience. His impact on Indian cinema was acknowledged with numerous prestigious awards, including a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards across various categories.

In acknowledgment of his significant contributions to the arts in India, the Government of India conferred upon him the Padma Shri in 1992. His legacy was further cemented when he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015, which is the highest honor in Indian cinema.

Read Also: Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar Remember Manoj Kumar After His Passing

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!