Bollywood actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, 87, passed away due to age-related health issues at a hospital in Mumbai, as confirmed by Dr. Santosh Shetty of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

Kumar’s son, Kunal Goswami, disclosed that his father had been dealing with health challenges for an extended period.

Kumar, originally named Harikrishan Goswami, was born in 1937 in Punjab, and gained fame in the 1960s and 70s for his patriotic films such as Shaheed, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and Kranti, which resonated with the Indian audience.

Throughout his career, Kumar amassed several awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor for cinematographers.

The actor’s legacy is being celebrated on social media, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising him as an “icon of Indian cinema,” whose work will continue to inspire future generations.

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also mourned the loss, calling it a significant blow to the Indian film industry, and expressed the industry’s collective grief for his passing.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx4dd0gqego