Yesteryears’ boxoffice queen Mala Sinha who nowlives in her home country Nepal is completely cut off from the Hindi film industry. However, the news of Manoj Kumar’s demise reached her as well. Like several of Manoj Kumar’s other co-stars, she too was in a state of shock and grief. While speaking to us, she recalled Manoj Kumar as one of her most favourite co-actors.
Several Hindi cinema personalities, including Aamir Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Prem Chopra, and Asha Parekh, paid tributes to veteran actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar at a prayer meet organised in his memory at a five-star hotel here on Sunday.
Kumar, whose film credits include Shaheed, Upkar, Purab Aur Pachhim, Roti Kapda Aur Makan, and Kranti, died on early Friday morning in a hospital here due to age-related issues. He was 87.
When you think of Manoj Kumar, patriotic tunes come immediately to mind. For years, Mere Desh Ki Dharti from Upkar and Bharat Ka Rehne Waala Hoon from Purab Aur Paschim have been played on August 15 and January 26. Both were composed by Kalyanji-Anandji and sung by Mahendra Kapoor. However, Mukesh sang the most famous love song filmed on him. Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal with Lata Mangeshkar in duet in the movie Shor, is immortal.
