Did you know Manoj Kumar changed his screen name out of deep admiration for a Dilip Kumar movie character? Find out his real name

by

As an ardent admirer of the legendary Manoj Kumar, I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing at the venerable age of 87. This iconic figure in Indian cinema left us at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital early on Friday morning. His son, Kunal Goswami, confirmed the heartbreaking news to ANI, informing us that our beloved star took his final breath around 3:30 a.m., after a long and valiant struggle with health issues. Born as Harikrishnan Giri Goswami, he chose the name Manoj after being captivated by Dilip Kumar’s character in the film Shabnam – a testament to his admiration for the cinema world.

In a previous conversation, the experienced actor Manoj Kumar expressed his deep respect for the legendary performer Dilip Kumar. This esteemed actor significantly impacted Manoj Kumar’s career development as an actor.

At the tender age of 11, he vividly remembered being profoundly touched by Dilip Kumar’s performance in the 1949 movie Shabnam. This impact was so significant that if he ever stepped into the world of films, he made a promise to himself to adopt the screen name ‘Manoj Kumar’.

Over time, his profound appreciation culminated into a significant milestone in his professional journey, where he not merely starred with, but also helmed Dilip Kumar in the 1981 movie “Kranti.

This individual was a versatile artist who shone not only as an actor and film director but also left indelible impressions as a scriptwriter, songwriter, and editor. For his substantial impact on Indian cinema, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 1992, followed by the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.

Born in 1937, Kumar (originally known as Harikrishnan Giri Goswami) hails from Abbottabad, a town that was once within the North-West Frontier Province of British India and now lies within the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in modern-day Pakistan.

In the process of partitioning, his family moved to Delhi. It wasn’t until 1957 and the release of the movie “Fashion” that he made an entrance into Bollywood, but it was the film “Kanch Ki Gudiya” that truly catapulted him to success within the film industry.

Apart from his work as an actor, he was also involved in directing notable movies such as Upkar, Shor, and Jai Hind, and furthermore, he oversaw their editing process too.

Known as a prominent figure in Bollywood, he was frequently acclaimed for his successful partnerships with popular actors like Prem Nath, Prem Chopra, Kamini Kaushal, Hema Malini, and numerous others.

Read More

2025-04-04 08:22