Volunteers prepared an ambulance carrying the mortal remains of veteran actor-Filmekar Manoj Kumar, before leaving for their funeral at Pawan Hans crematorium, Juhu on Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai, Saturday, 5 April, 2025. Photo Credit: PTI
Manoj Kumar, known as’ Bharat Kumar ‘for portrayal of patriotic heroes in films like’ Ukar “and” Kranti “, was cremated on Saturday (April 5) with full state honors and three-gun salutes in Mumbai.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and veteran screenwriter Salim Khan Juhu was one of the leading personalities of the entertainment industry at Pawan Hans crematorium.
The funeral began at around 11:30 and Kumar’s two sons, Vishal and Kunal, burnt the funeral of actor-Filmekar, who died on Friday due to age-related issues at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. He was 87 years old.
Family members and others during the funeral of Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai, experienced actor-Filmekar Manoj Kumar in Juhu, Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photo Credit: PTI
Raj Babbar, Abhishek Bachchan, Jimmy Shirgil, Arbaaz Khan, Subhash Ghai, Anu Malik, Zaid Khan, Prem Chopra, Rajpal Yadav, Ranjit and Sunil Darshan also attended the funeral.
After the funeral, Bachchan, with his son Abhishek, and Khan, who came with his son Arbaaz, expressed his condolences to Kumar’s family.
Chopra, who portrayed the actor in films like “Woh Coun Thi?”, “Shaheed”, “Cess”, “Anita”, “Purba and Paschim”, “Sanyasi”, “Sanyasi”, “Kalayag and Ramayana” and “Kranti”, Kumar said that Kumar was one of his best friends.
He said, “We have been together since the beginning, this is a great journey. Everyone has benefited from working with him. I benefited after working with him. In those days, we used to make films with a lot of passion,” he told PTI.
Chopra said about the 1965 film, “Even today, when ‘Shaheed’ comes on TV, I get a call from people. He was very happy with my performance as Sukhdev in the film,” Chopra said about the 1965 film, which was based on the life of revolutionary Bhagat Singh, which was played by Kumar.
Veteran actor-royalty Raj Babar recalled Kumar’s blessings when he started working on his 1999 film “Shahd Udham Singh”.
“The Indian film industry has lost a precious gem. It has brought in India, for our culture, and all the patriots who have always been proud of our country. They demonstrated the dignity and pride of India within the world and the country.
“As a writer, director and a person who talked about patriotism, it was a great soul who always earned a place with love in the hearts of people,” he told PTI.
Family members paid tribute to the mortal remains of experienced actor-Filmekar Manoj Kumar at his residence, before his funeral in Mumbai, on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Photo Credit: PTI
At Kumar’s residence in Juhu, a picture of his youth actor was placed at the entrance to all to offer his final honor.
The ambulance carrying the mortal remains of Manoj Kumar, adorned with three flowers, left for the crematorium at 10:30 am. His body was also wrapped in the Indian flag, which is a suitable tribute to the actor, often brought the subjects of nationalism on the silver screen with his films.
After his death on Friday, veteran actor Dharmendra, Prem Chopra, filmmaker Madhur Jamkar, Farah Khan, along with his brother Sajid Khan, arrived to express his condolences at Kumar’s residence.
Kumar was known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ among his fans, who were among others in a series of patriotic films like “Shaheed”, “Cess”, “Purba and Paschim” and “Roti, Capada and Maken”.
Born in a Punjabi Hindu family in Abbottabad Town (Pakistan) in undivided India, Harikrishna Goswami, Kumar’s family moved to Delhi in 1947 in the year of independence of India.
He completed his graduation from the Hindu College of Delhi University before going to Mumbai to make his career in films.
Some other notable films of Kumar included “God Mein”, “Do Badan”, “Patthar Ke Sanam”, “Hariyali and Rusta”, “Kranti”, and others.
He has survived his two sons and wife Shashi.
Published – 05 April, 2025 02:16 pm IST
