Manoj Kumar (born Harikrishan Goswami; 24 July 1937) is an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema.
He is known for acting and making films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname Bharat Kumar.
He is the recipient of a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards, in varied categories.
1957
After making a little-noticed début in Fashion (1957), followed by forgettable roles in films like Sahara (1958), Chand (1959) and Honeymoon (1960), he landed his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudiya (1961).
1961
Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961), Suhag Sindoor (1961), Reshmi Roomal (1961) followed, but the majority of these proved unsuccessful.
1962
This changed in 1962 when he starred in Vijay Bhatt's Hariyali Aur Rasta opposite Mala Sinha.
It was a critical and commercial success.
This was followed by - Shaadi (1962), Dr. Vidya (1962) and Grahasti (1963), all of which did well at the box office.
1964
His breakthrough came with Raj Khosla's mystery thriller Woh Kaun Thi? in 1964.
The film emerged a hit, which was attributed to its watertight screenplay and melodious songs, such as "Lag Jaa Gale" and "Naina Barse Rimjhim", both solos by Lata Mangeshkar.
1965
1965 was a big year for Kumar, as it initiated his rise to stardom.
His first release was patriotic drama Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh, the Independence revolutionary.
It received highly positive responses from critics as well as the then-Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri, and it was a hit at the box office.
This was followed by romantic drama Himalay Ki God Mein, a blockbuster which made him a bankable star.
In the month of December, Kumar scored another hit with mystery thriller Gumnaam.
After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan ("Hail the soldier, hail the farmer").
1966
The success streak continued in 1966, when he reunited with Khosla for Do Badan alongside Asha Parekh.
This film was remembered for Khosla's direction, Kumar's performance, and songs written by the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni (including "Raha Gardishon Mein", sung by Mohammed Rafi, and "Lo Aa Gayi Unki Yaad", a solo by Lata Mangeshkar).
He delivered another hit that year in Shakti Samanta's Sawan Ki Ghata, performing opposite Sharmila Tagore.
1967
The result was his directorial debut, the 1967 patriotic drama Upkar.
The film topped the box office chart that year, and emerged as an All Time Blockbuster.
Upkar received critical acclaim and its music was also highly successful, especially "Mere Desh Ki Dharti," which is played during Republic Day and the Independence Day of India.
Upkar won him the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film as well as his first Filmfare Best Director Award.
His next release, Patthar Ke Sanam again went on to become a major commercial success, but Anita alongside Sadhana flopped.
1968
In 1968, he co-starred alongside Raaj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman in Neel Kamal.
The same year, he reunited with Rehman for Aadmi, which also had Dilip Kumar in the lead.
Neel Kamal proved a superhit at the box office, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1968.
Aadmi also did reasonable business, and was declared a semi-hit by the end of its run.
1969
The year 1969 saw the rise of Rajesh Khanna, who stormed the nation with the historic blockbuster Aradhana.
His rise led to a decline in the stardom of actors like Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor and Sunil Dutt.
During this period, Dharmendra and Kumar were the only actors who remained unaffected by Rajesh Khanna Mania, and kept delivering huge-grossing films.
Kumar's only release of 1969 was Sajan opposite Parekh.
The film was a hit, and ranked tenth among the highest-grossing films of that year.
1970
He returned to patriotic themes in 1970 with Purab Aur Paschim, which juxtaposed life in the East and West.
1992
He was awarded Padma Shri in 1992 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016 by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts.
Kumar was born into a Hindu Brahmin family in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).
His birth name is Harikrishan Giri Goswami.
When he was 10, his family migrated from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to the Partition.
Kumar pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hindu College before trying his luck in films.
When he was young, he admired actors Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Kamini Kaushal and decided to name himself Manoj Kumar, after Dilip Kumar's character in Shabnam.
