Manoj Kumar had donated his National Award prize money for Shaheed film to Bhagat Singh’s family

Manoj Kumar

Veteran actor Manoj Kumar, who passed away today due to heart ailment, had once donated the entire prize amount he received for the National Award for his 1965 film Shaheed to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s family.

He had revealed this in an interview to Hindustan Times almost a decade ago.

Manoj Kumar had won his first National Award as a scriptwriter for Shaheed in 1965 and then for patriotic film Upkar in in 1967.

“I donated the entire amount I got for my national award for Shaheed to Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s family. Awards do give any creative person a sense of satisfaction. I am happy that the government has at last rewarded my work," he told HT in 2016.

Shaheed, directed by S Ram Sharma, featured Kamini Kaushal, Pran, Iftekhar, Nirupa Roy, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri and Anwar Hussain. It was based on the life of Bhagat Singh. Manoj Kumar played the titular role of Bhagat Singh.

Manoj Kumar had also spoken about meeting noted director Satyajit Ray and discussing Upkar with him.

“At an international film festival in Delhi, I came across Manikda (Satyajit Ray). I asked him if he had watched my film, Upkar. He said he had, but found it melodramatic. I smiled and questioned him if the sequence in his own film Charulata (1964) where a thunder storm occurs when Soumitra Chattarjee sees Madhabi Mukherjee not melodramatic? Patting me affectionately, Manikda said I caught him!! There can’t be anyone like Manikda, even today,” he had said in the same interview.

Due to his numerous patriotic films, Manoj was also known as 'Bharat Kumar'.

Manoj Kumar came to be known as 'Bharat Kumar' for his series of patriotic films such as "Shaheed", "Upkar" and "Purab Aur Paschim".

The industry veteran, whose films ruled the box office in the late 1960s and 1970s, had been ailing for a while and died of age related issues at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital around 3.30 am, family friend and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit told PTI.

"He had been hospitalized for the past few weeks," Dr Santosh Shetty, CEO and executive director of the hospital, said in a statement.

Also Read -PM Narendra Modi mourns the demise of veteran actor Manoj Kumar

"He is out of his misery now," the filmmaker's son Kunal told PTI, adding that his father had been battling multiple health issues and was bedridden for the last few years.

Manoj Kumar had been in and out of hospital and was most recently admitted for pneumonia, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered him as an "icon of Indian cinema".

"Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films. Manoj Ji's works ignited a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," the prime minister wrote on X.

Manoj Kumar, a Dadasaheb Phalke winner, was also known for hits such as "Do Badan", "Haryali Aur Rasta" and "Gumnam".

Born Harikrishan Goswami into a Punjabi Hindu family in Abbotabad town (Pakistan) in the undivided India, Kumar's family migrated to Delhi and he completed his graduation from Hindu College before shifting to Mumbai to pursue a career in movies. (With PTI Inputs)