Manoj Kumar

Manoj Kumar who is the ardent admirer of Dilip Kumar was born on 24 July 1937, at Abbottabad, NWFP, British India. Manoj Kumar is ver well known for acting and directing films with patriotic themes.

The actor is also crowned with the name "Mr Bharat". After making a debut in Fashion in 1957, Manoj Kumar landed his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia opposite Sayeeda Khan in 1960. In 1964 Manoj Kumar appeared with Sadhana in Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi, and reunited with Vijay Bhatt and Mala Sinha in Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965).

Manoj Kumar's started acting on patriotic subjects with the 1965 film Shaheed. Soon after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked Manoj Kumar to make a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan.

Manoj Kumar's first directorial debut, was Upkaar that came in 1967. The film was a hit and won the actor his first Filmfare Best Director Award.

After donning numerous roles in the late 60s, Manoj Kumar returned to patriotic themes in Purab Aur Paschim (1970). In 1972, the actor starred in Be-Imaan for which he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award and directed and starred in Shor (1972).

In 1976 Manoj created history by giving 3 back to back blockbusters in form of Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), Sanyasi (1975) and Dus Numbari (1976).
The mid-70s saw him in three big hit films: Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) that won him his second Filmfare Award for Best Director; Sanyasi (1975) and Dus Numbri (1976) also gave Manoj Kumar and Hema Malini lot of name and fame. In Manoj Kumar was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.