Udaipur, April 4, 2025: Manoj Kumar, the actor who performed the famous patriotic song 'Meri Desh Ki Dharti' on screen, has passed away. He was always in the news for his performance in patriotic films. This veteran actor and producer breathed his last on Friday, April 4 2025 at the Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. He was 87 years old.

According to reports, the veteran actor had been suffering from several health problems related to old age. He was recently admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

Earlier, he had suffered from a heart condition. Along with that, he was also diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. The death certificate issued by the hospital mentioned both heart disease and liver cirrhosis as the causes of death. His son Kunal, was with him during his last moments.

Kunal told news agency ANI, “My father fought a long illness. He passed away peacefully. His last rites will be held on Saturday morning at Pawan Hans. He would have turned 88 in two months.”

Kunal also shared that Manoj Kumar spent most of his time with his grandchildren in recent years and was emotionally happy, although physically weak due to age-related health issues.

A Life Dedicated to Patriotic Cinema

Manoj Kumar was best known for making and acting in patriotic films and songs. Movies like Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, and Kranti became symbols of love for the country. Because of these films, he was lovingly called ‘Bharat Kumar’.

He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016, India's highest award in cinema.

Tributes from Leaders and Celebrities

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and praised Manoj Kumar’s contribution to Indian cinema.
• Director Ashok Pandit said, “Manoj was a lively person. Bollywood will always miss him.”
• Actor Akshay Kumar wrote, “He taught us the meaning of loving the country. One of the biggest gems of our film industry. Om Shanti.”
• Writer Manoj Muntashir shared, “I’m proud to share the same name. You inspired me to write songs like ‘Teri Mitti’. Farewell, my hero!”
• Director Vivek Agnihotri said, “He was a visionary who taught us how to make unforgettable patriotic films.”

His Journey in Bollywood

Manoj Kumar was born in 1937 in Abbottabad, now in Pakistan. His real name was Harikrishan Goswami. He entered Bollywood in 1957 with the film Fashion. His first major hit came in 1961 with Kanch Ki Gudiya. In 1965, his film Gumnaam became a box-office success, earning ₹2.6 crores, a big amount in those days. He was last seen on the big screen in the 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung.