Kumar Bahukhandi
Manoj Kumar – Photo: Prime Look ( Mumbai )
Manoj Kumar Death: As long as Manoj Kumar was conscious, he used to read newspaper daily. He had completely stopped watching television many years ago. In the newspaper too, he used to read only news related to politics.
This happened just two years ago. Shahrukh Khan’s recently released film ‘Pathan’ was creating a buzz in the whole country. It had not even been a week since the release of the film and in the meantime, the then cultural minister of Maharashtra, Sudhir Mungantiwar, reached Pune International Film Festival to invite Manoj Kumar. Some media people also went with him and on this occasion, the press people were able to take his last photo. During this, a discussion took place with him on the films of the current era. When the discussion reached Shahrukh’s film ‘Pathan’, he immediately said, “Don’t forget, Ajay Devgan’s film ‘Drishyam 2’ has also been a hit.”
Manoj Kumar receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award – Photo : Prime Look (Mumbai)
Very few people would know that Manoj Kumar had a major role in making Ajay Devgan’s father Veeru Devgan a stunt director. Manoj Kumar launched Veeru Devgan as a stunt director in the film ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’. In this film, Veeru Devgan did the work of Amitabh Bachchan’s duplicate in the scene where Amitabh Bachchan rides a motorcycle with one hand. Actor, writer, producer, director Manoj Kumar, who has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award in cinema given by the Government of India, could not forgive Shahrukh Khan till the end.
Manoj Kumar with Shahrukh Khan – Photo: Prime Look (Mumbai)
That day too, it appeared from his words that he had not forgotten the joke made on him in the film ‘Om Shanti Om’. Even at the age of 85, his memory was still good. During the conversation, as soon as the record-breaking success of Shahrukh Khan’s film ‘Pathan’ was mentioned, he brought up Ajay Devgan’s name. When he was asked which was the last film he saw in a cinema, he said, “The last time I saw Aamir Khan’s film ‘Three Idiots’ in a cinema.”
Manoj Kumar’s family – Photo: Prime Look ( Mumbai )
Manoj Kumar said about today’s films, “Today’s films are being made in the same way as Gulab Jamun has Jamun in its name but it does not have the taste of Jamun.” Manoj Kumar was to be honored for his invaluable contribution to cinema at the 21st Pune International Film Festival, but due to health reasons Manoj Kumar was not in a condition to attend this program. That is why the then cultural minister of Maharashtra Sudhir Mungantiwar honored him by visiting his house on 31 January.
Manoj Kumar with Dharmendra – Photo: Prime Look ( Mumbai )
As long as Manoj Kumar was conscious, he read the newspaper every day. He had completely stopped watching television many years ago. In the newspaper too, he kept reading only political news. That day, in the course of conversation, the story of actor Dharmendra also came up. On hearing his name, Manoj started laughing loudly. Very few people know that when Dharmendra saw that his work in films was not working out, he had once prepared to leave Bombay (now Mumbai). He had booked a ticket to go back to Punjab. And, he had already left to catch the train when Manoj Kumar came to know about it. It was Manoj Kumar who brought Dharmendra back after getting him off the train. When this story was mentioned, the glow on Manoj Kumar’s face was worth seeing.
