www.alumni.du.ac.in / The University of Delhi Alumni eZine Edition Eight 2020 pT Cul 015 Superstar–Awardwinning Director : our alumnus Manoj “Bharat” Kumar alpix 0859 Manoj Kumar BA Hindu College Padma Shri 1992 Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2015 Manoj Kumar (born Harikishan Giri Goswami on 24 July 1937) is an Indian Actor and Director remembered for his versatile performances in films like Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi?, Himalay Ki God Mein, Do Badan, Upkar, Patthar Ke Sanam, Neel Kamal, Purab Aur Paschim, Beimaan, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Dus Numbri, Sanyasi and Kranti. He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname Bharat Kumar. Manoj was born in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). When he was 10, his family migrated from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to the Partition 1947. His family lived as refugees in Vijay Nagar(off Delhi University Enclave), Kingsway Camp and later moved to Old Rajinder Nagar in New Delhi. When he was young, he admired actors Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Kamini Kaushal and decided to name himself Manoj Kumar, after Dilip Kumar's character in Shabnam. Manoj starred in the 1965 film Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh, the Independence revolutionary. After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (hail the soldier, hail the farmer). The result was Manoj's directorial debut Upkaar (1967). In this award-winning film, he played both a soldier and a farmer. The film was also noted for the famous song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti", written by Gulshan Bawra, composed by Kalyanji-Anandji and sung by Mahendra Kapoor. Upkaar was declared a blockbuster and won him his first Filmfare Best Director Award. In 1972, he starred in Beimaan (for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award) and later directed and starred in Shor (1972). The latter, opposite Nanda, was not a huge box office success on its release, but has gained cult status over the years. It featured the memorable song "Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai", a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, which was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and written by (Delhi’s own poet)Santosh Anand. www.alumni.du.ac.in / The University of Delhi Alumni eZine Edition Eight 2020 In the mid-1970s Manoj starred in three hit films; Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) which was a social commentary, featuring an all-star cast including Zeenat Aman, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. He won his second Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film Roti Kapda Makan. Sanyasi (1975),a religious-themed comedy, had Kumar and Hema Malini in the lead roles and the film was hugely successful. Dus Numbri (1976) also gave Kumar,Pran,Prem Nath and Hema top billing. He also starred in the hit Punjabi film Jat Punjabi. In 1981, Manoj reached the peak of his career when he got the opportunity to direct his idol, Dilip Kumar(Yusuf Khan in real life), as well as to star in Kranti, a story about the struggle for Indian Independence in the 19th century. He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for a career spanning over 40 years. Manoj Kumar is married to Shashi Goswami (originally from Jodhkan, Sirsa district, Haryana). He has two sons, Vishal and Kunal. wikipedia 29.09.2020 Adapted .