Legendary veteran star, Manoj Kumar, who was best known for his patriotic movies, passed away at 87 in Mumbai’s Kokilaben Ambani Hospital at 3.30 am on April 4, 2025. Manoj was known for his work in movies like Shaheed, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Upkar and Kranti. He was fondly called ‘Bharat Kumar’. However, did you know Manoj had a fear of flights? Despite starting his journey in movies at a young age, Manoj always had a fear of flights, and that was another reason why, during a shoot in London, he reached the shoot location by ship.
When Manoj Kumar reached Purab Aur Paschim’s shoot location after a month-long trip in a ship
During the 1970’s a Bollywood film being filmed abroad was a big thing. Purab Aur Paschim was a movie directed by Manoj, who played the pivotal role of ‘Bharat’. According to multiple reports, the actor had a fear of flying. However, according to a DNA report, the actor stepped from the aircraft to London during the first shoot of the movie, he got a fever and boils on his body. Kumar reportedly had to hide his neck and face from the camera during the shooting.
When the second part of the film was being shot, Manoj strictly refused to travel by plane. He took a month-long sojourn on a ship and reached the shooting location in London. As Manoj was the producer of the movie, he got the schedule adjusted and also ensured that the cast and crew of the movie arrived a month later by plane after Manoj reached London.
When Manoj Kumar continued travelling by train despite gaining success
Manoj Kumar has made films that always had a social message. The actor had an immense plane phobia, so he preferred to even travel by train for his commitments. He always stuck to his belief of not travelling by aircraft. Once when he was in Mumbai and had to go to Delhi for a marriage in the family, he travelled by train instead of flying. Manoj’s wife, Shashi Goswami was always his pillar of support. She never left his side as Manoj, when travelling by train, was in a wheelchair. He had boarded the Rajdhani Express from Mumbai Central Station and always felt that travelling by train was of great comfort.
When Manoj Kumar met his wife, Shashi Goswami in college
According to an interview with Dainik Jagran, Manoj shared of meeting his wife, Shashi when he was in college. Their relationship had issues as Shashi’s parents did not like her relationship with the late actor. However, the couple had overcome all the challenges as Manoj had said:
“I used to go to the sets at 10 a.m. and used to come home straight after the pack up at 6 p.m. After which, I had dedicated all my time to my parents, siblings, wife, and children. I had followed this schedule for my entire career and is the reason why today we are sitting here and living happily in a married life.”
What do you think of Manoj Kumar’s phobia of travelling by planes?
Also Read: When Manoj Kumar Said Shashi Kapoor And Dharmendra Were ‘Greedy’ Actors, ‘I’ve Done Hardly 35 Films’
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