How "Bharat Kumar" was earned by Manoj Kumar

Manoj Kumar, a veteran actor, passed away. He was eighty-seven. The nickname 'Bharat Kumar' was given to Kumar because of his work in Hindi cinema.

Ankush Pandey Ankush Pandey
Apr 4, 2025 - 06:25 Updated: Apr 4, 2025 - 06:26
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How "Bharat Kumar" was earned by Manoj Kumar
How

Highlights

  • 'Bharat Kumar' is the moniker Manoj Kumar gained from his films.
  • The actor claimed that after winning the title, he declined to appear in romantic scenes on screen.
  • Manoj Kumar passed away in Mumbai on Friday at the age of 87.

Manoj Kumar, an 87-year-old veteran actor, passed away. He was affectionately referred to by his supporters as 'Bharat Kumar'. The actor had explained in a previous interview how he came to be known by the nickname.

In an interview with Lehren Retro, Manoj Kumar explained the origin of the nickname, stating, "Aksar jo achcha character hai uska naam woh rakh dete hain." Kisano ka desh hai toh uss character ke name mein Bharat rakh dun aur uski zindagi mein jo kheton se juda hua hai, ek ladki aati hai, aise aati hai ke jaise koi jhilmil karti hui Kavita.

Bharat desh toh gaon mein basta hai toh maine socha. A good character's name tends to stick with the audience, so Isiliye ladki ka naam Kavita rakh diya tha. Since India is mostly an agricultural nation, I decided to give the character the name Bharat. 

The fields have a role in his life. I gave the female lead's character the name Kavita because when a girl enters his life, it's like a poem has arrived.

"Humare desh ki public itni dayalu hai towards unko koi cheez genuine aur achchi lagti hai aur sachi lagti hai toh woh itna pyaar and izzat dete hain jo duniya mein koi nahi deta." Mainly, aap logon ne Bharat bana diya tha seedha-saadha ladka tha. He lives in a village, and this is a country of farmers, so I called him Bharat.

Ehsaan kiya, bhoj bhi dal diya ke uss image ko nibhane ke liye mushkil ho gaya. And our nation's people are so generous that they show a great deal of love and respect for anything sincere and admirable. I was just an ordinary boy, but you all transformed me into "Bharat." While I appreciate the love, you placed a huge responsibility on me to live up to that image”.

Narendra Modi, the prime minister, also offered his sympathies. "Very sorry for the loss of the great actor and director Shri Manoj Kumar Ji," he wrote on X. Known for his patriotic fervor, which was evident in his films, he was a legendary figure in Indian cinema.  Generations to come will be inspired by the works of Manoj Ji, who sparked a sense of patriotism.  His family and supporters are in my prayers during this difficult time. Om Shanti. 

A Look At Manoj Kumar’s Film

Manoj Kumar was well-known for his work as a director and actor in patriotic films. He is best known for his compositions "Shaheed" (1965), "Upkar" (1967), "Purab Aur Paschim" (1970), and "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan" (1974). The actor was also commonly referred to as "Bharat Kumar" due to his involvement in these films.

Kumar is the director of several other well-known films, such as "Hariyali Aur Raasta," "Woh Kaun Thi," "Himalaya Ki God Mein," "Do Badan," "Patthar Ke Sanam," "Neel Kamal," and "Kranti." Acknowledging his contributions to Indian film, he was also given the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.