Bollywood is mourning the tragic demise of the legendary actor, Manoj Kumar, who is fondly called ‘Bharat Kumar’ by fans. The actor’s passing left an unbridgeable void in Hindi cinema, but his legacy will continue through his timeless works. Veteran actress, Sharmila Tagore, who starred alongside Manoj Kumar in Sawan Ki Ghata, recently opened up on her experience working with the late actor.
Sharmila Tagore on working with Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar passed away in the early hours of April 4, 2025, at the age of 87. Throughout his acting career, Manoj Kumar has worked with numerous popular actresses, Sharmila Tagore being one of them. They starred together in the 1966 Bollywood musical romance film, Sawan Ki Ghata, co-starring Mumtaz, Pran, and Madan Puri. In a recent chat with Filmfare, the veteran actress shared her experience working with Manoj Kumar in the film. In Sharmila’s words:
“I worked in Sawan Ki Ghata with Manoj (Kumar) ji. We shot the film in Ooty. I have some wonderful memories. He made great films as a director. His contribution to Hindi films is immense.”
Aruna Irani remembers Manoj Kumar’s final days
Manoj Kumar passed away after prolonged suffering from age-related concerns, and during his final months, he used to spend most of his nights in the hospital. After the actor-director’s death, his co-star, veteran actress, Aruna Irani, spoke to TOI about how his health had deteriorated in those last few months. She shared:
“He had been unwell for a long time. A couple of months ago, I was admitted to the same hospital after fracturing my leg, and he was there, too. But I couldn’t meet him because of my injury. Unke lungs mein paani bhar jata tha, and he used to come for treatment, stay for a few days, and then go back home. I hope he rests in peace.”
Bollywood mourns the death of legendary actor, Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar, fondly called ‘Bharat Kumar’, passed away at 4:03 am on April 4, 2025. According to a report by ANI, he succumbed to a cardiogenic shock following a severe heart attack. The late actor had also been battling liver cirrhosis, and he was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on February 21, 2025.
Manoj Kumar’s death came as a shock to the industry, and social media feeds are flooded with Bollywood celebrities mourning the loss. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PM Narendra Modi and actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar penned heartfelt notes for their beloved ‘Bharat Kumar’.
Manoj Kumar earned significant accolades for his roles in films like Mera Naam Joker, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Jai Hind. He has also been the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Manoj Kumar’s last rites will be held on April 5, 2025, at Mumbai’s Pawan Hans, Vile Parle. His son, Kumal Goswami, shared:
“It’s the grace of the god that he bid adieu to this world peacefully. His cremation will take place tomorrow.”
Our heartiest condolences to Manoj Kumar’s family in this testing time!
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