Mumbai, April 4: Tributes are pouring in from across the entertainment industry and prominent leaders, honoring the remarkable legacy of the late Manoj Kumar. Bollywood celebrities including Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Farah Khan, and Farhan Akhtar, among others, took to social media to express their condolences.
Aamir Khan, deeply saddened by the loss of the veteran actor, shared how Manoj Kumar’s films had a profound impact on him. Reflecting on the valuable lessons he learned from the late actor’s iconic performances, Aamir noted the immense influence Manoj Kumar had on his own career and life. In an official statement, he said, “Manoj Kumar was not just an actor and filmmaker; he was an institution. I have learned so much from watching his films. His works often focused on important social themes, bringing him closer to the common man. My heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Ajay Devgn shared a personal memory of how Manoj Kumar played a pivotal role in his family’s journey in the film industry. The ‘Singham’ actor revealed that Manoj Kumar gave his father, Veeru Devgn, his first break as an action director in the iconic film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, marking a key milestone in Veeru’s successful career. Ajay wrote, “Manoj Kumar ji was not just a cinematic icon - he was a personal milestone in my family’s journey. He gave my father, Veeru Devgan, his very first break as an action director in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. Their collaboration continued through to Kranti, creating moments that are now part of Indian cinema’s golden history.”
Akshay Kumar also expressed his deep admiration for Manoj Kumar, highlighting the immense influence he had in instilling a sense of love and pride for the country. The ‘Kesari’ actor shared how he grew up learning from Manoj Kumar that “there’s no emotion like love and pride for our country,” a sentiment that the late actor beautifully portrayed through his patriotic films. Akshay tweeted, “I grew up learning from him that there’s no emotion like love and pride for our country. And if we actors won’t take the lead in showing this emotion, who will? Such a fine person, and one of the biggest assets of our fraternity. RIP Manoj Sir. Om Shanti.”
Manoj Kumar, affectionately known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his iconic patriotic roles, passed away on April 4, 2025, at the age of 87 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He had been hospitalized since February 21 due to a significant decline in his health.
