Bollywood icon Manoj Kumar dies at 87: Patriotic movie pioneer and more

Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, renowned for his patriotic and intense roles, died at the age of 87 on April 4.

According to NDTV, he died at 3:30 am at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital due to heart-related complications. ​

Born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami on July 24, 1937, Manoj Kumar made significant contributions to Hindi cinema with iconic films such as 'Shaheed,' 'Upkar,' 'Purab Aur Paschim,' and 'Roti Kapda Aur Makaan.' His work earned him the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015. ​

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating, "Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films." ​

Manoj Kumar is survived by his wife, Shashi Goswami, and their two sons, Vishal and Kunal Goswami. ​