Veteran Bollywood actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar has died at the age of 87 in Mumbai, India’s financial capital.
Dr. Santosh Shetty from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where Kumar was being treated, confirmed the news, stating that he passed away due to age-related health issues.
His son, Kunal Goswami, told ANI that the actor had been facing health challenges for a long time.
Manoj Kumar, whose real name was Harikrishan Goswami, was born in 1937 in Punjab.
He rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s with a series of patriotic films that left a lasting impact on Indian cinema.
Some of his most iconic films include Shaheed, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and Kranti.
Known for his strong patriotic themes, Kumar’s films struck a chord with audiences across India.
He was honoured with several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema.
Following the news of his death, tributes poured in across social media. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him on X (formerly Twitter), calling him an “icon of Indian cinema” whose films “ignited a spirit of national pride.”
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also expressed his sorrow, calling Kumar’s death “a great loss to the industry” and stating that “the entire industry would miss him”.
