New Delhi. Whenever we talk about those great actors of Hindi cinema, Harikishan Giri Goswami’s name is definitely taken. You must be thinking who is this Harikishan Giri Goswami? Don’t strain your brain too much, we will tell you who Harikishan Giri Goswami is. He is the actor who awakened the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of people. Manoj Kumar, a handsome and shy actor famous as ‘Bharat Kumar’. Manoj Kumar was born on 24 July 1937 in Abbottabad, Pakistan. His parents named him Harikishan Giri Goswami. But after coming into films, he changed this name. We will tell you interesting stories of Harikishan Giri Goswami becoming Manoj Kumar. Becoming a ‘beggar’ at the age of 20 and getting beaten up by the police.
Bollywood’s veteran actor Manoj Kumar has entertained the audience for years with his personality and acting. Today he is 87 years old. Manoj Kumar was born in Abbottabad, Pakistan and after the partition, he came to India with his family. On the birthday of Manoj Kumar, who has been awarded the National Award, Dada Saheb Phalke, Padma Shri Award and 8 Filmfare Awards, let’s know those things related to him, which people hardly know.
How Manoj Kumar became Hari Kishan Giri Goswami
Manoj Kumar was fond of cinema since childhood. He had seen a film in his childhood, named ‘Shabnam’. Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal were the lead actors in this film released on 22 April 1949. Directed by Bibhuti Mitra, this film had music by SD Burman. Dilip sahab played a character named ‘Manoj’ in this film based on the Rangoon War. Harikishan Giri Goswami was so impressed by Dilip Kumar in this film that he changed his name to ‘Manoj Kumar’.
Manoj Kumar made his Bollywood debut with the 1957 film ‘Fashion’. Photo courtesy-@bharatkumarfunsclub/Instagram
Became a ‘beggar’ at the age of 20
Manoj Kumar, who showed his strong acting skills in many hit films including ‘Shaheed’, ‘Woh Kaun Thi’, ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’, ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ and ‘Upkaar’, started his film career in 1957 with Lekhraj Bhakri’s film ‘Fashion’. In this film, he played the role of a 90-year-old beggar. In 1960, he appeared as a lead actor for the first time in the film ‘Kaanch Ki Gudiya’. However, Manoj Kumar’s first hit film was ‘Hariyali Aur Raasta’, which was released in 1962.
Why was he called ‘Bharat Kumar’
Manoj Kumar’s directorial venture ‘Kranti’ had brought a revolution at the box office in those days. Although Manoj Kumar worked in many films, he is still in the hearts of the audience due to his serious acting in ‘Purab Aur Paschim’. The song of this film ‘Bharat ka rehne wala hun, Bharat ki baat sunata hun’ works to awaken the feeling of patriotism in people in those days as much as it does today. Manoj Kumar played the lead role in the film ‘Shaheed’ released in 1965, for which he also met the mother of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. At that time Bhagat Singh’s mother was admitted in the hospital. It is said that Manoj Kumar burst into tears after meeting Bhagat Singh’s mother. In most of the films made on patriotism, Manoj Kumar’s character’s name was ‘Bharat’. Because of this people started calling him ‘Bharat Kumar’.
When police batons fell
Manoj Kumar has also been beaten up by the police. Actually, this is from the time when he lived in a refugee camp after the partition. He used to get angry very quickly about the situation. According to media reports, once he vented his anger on the doctors and nurses of the refugee camp. When the matter escalated, he had to face the lathi charge of the police.
Tags: Entertainment Special, Hands up
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 24, 2024, 07:36 IST
