Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar, fondly known as “Bharat Kumar” for his patriotic roles, passed away today at 87. As the film industry mourns the loss of one of its most iconic stars, memories of his illustrious career and unwavering principles come to the forefront.
Among the high-profile events in Manoj Kumar’s later life was his court battle with Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan. The row started with a scene in the 2007 blockbuster movie Om Shanti Om, directed by Farah Khan and produced by Shah Rukh Khan. The movie had a parody scene where Shah Rukh’s character impersonated Manoj Kumar’s acting style, which Kumar deemed very insulting.
Feeling deeply insulted by the portrayal, Kumar filed a defamation lawsuit against Shah Rukh Khan and the film’s producers, Eros International, demanding Rs 100 crore in damages. He insisted that the scene tarnished his image and should be removed from all prints and international releases. The controversy gained further traction when Shah Rukh and Farah publicly promised to delete the scene, only for it to reappear in the film’s Japanese release.
In 2008, the court had ordered the removal of the scene from all future prints and broadcasts, but this directive was not entirely followed. Kumar expressed his disappointment, stating, “I had forgiven them twice, but not this time. They have disrespected me.”
Though determined initially to pursue his case, Manoj Kumar decided ultimately to dismiss his suit. His attorney, Rizwan Siddique, reported that Kumar felt that the case failed actually to establish that sense of culpability that he had expected. Rather than extend the ordeal any further, however, he simply forgave and displayed his hallmark dignity and generosity.
As Bollywood reminisces about Manoj Kumar’s legacy, his movies and the values he represented remain an inspiration to many.
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