Bollywood biggies like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, and Sridevi delivered several hits in Hindi cinema over the decades. But Manoj Kumar, who passed away on April 4, 2025 had worked in far few films.Fans often waited months for his next release. In one of his old interviews, the actor-filmmaker had explained why he chose to work selectively.
Manoj Kumar on why he chose to do selective projects
The ‘Santosh’ actor stood apart from his contemporaries because he never chased trends, he set them. Known for his strong storytelling and his signature blend of patriotism and entertainment, his impact on Indian cinema remains unmatched.The actor appeared in only around 80 films, including a few small roles early in his career.In a conversation with journalist Subhash K. Jha, the legendary actor revealed the reason, “I am not a greedy film person, even as an actor. While my contemporaries Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor acted in nearly 300 films each, I’ve hardly done 35 films in my entire career.”
Manoj Kumar’s less presence
The actor slowly reduced his presence in films during the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially after some of his movies like ‘Kalyug Aur Ramayan’, ‘Santosh’, and ‘Clerk’ did not perform well. His last acting role came in 1995 with ‘Maidan-E-Jung’, after which he stepped away from acting. Four years later, in 1999, he directed his final film ‘Jai Hind’, marking the end of his journey as a filmmaker.
Manoj Kumar’s personal favourite film
The ‘Shaheed’ actor also earned the title ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his patriotic roles. Further when asked about his personal favourite from his career, Manoj surprised many by naming his 1972 film ‘Shor’. “Shor in 1972. It was about a man and his son. I remember I had gone to sign Jaya Bhaduriji after seeing her in Guddi. I told her Shor is about a father and son. The son can’t speak, and the father pines to hear him. But the day that the son speaks, the father can’t hear any more. No Indian film had been made on such a thin storyline. And that is the only film I directed in which I was not named Bharat.”
Manoj Kumar’s turns accidental director
Even though Manoj Kumar is celebrated today as one of Indian cinema’s most successful actor-directors, his entry into direction actually happened by complete accident.Apart from acting, he also gained recognition for his filmmaking abilities after making his directorial debut with ‘Upkar’ in 1967. The film became a massive success, after which he went on to direct several notable films such as ‘Purab Aur Paschim’, ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’, and ‘Kranti’. Sharing about the same, he stated, “I never intended to be a director in the first place. I became one by default when, during Shaheed, I had to direct the film unofficially. Then Lal Bahadur Shastri raised the slogan of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan. That’s how I made Upkar. I give credit for my success to my parents.”
