Veteran actor-director Manoj Kumar died in Mumbai on Friday at the age of 87 as a result of heart-related complications. A wave of grief swept the film fraternity as a number of Bollywood stars turned up to pay respects on Saturday.
The funeral had a dramatic moment as Abhishek Bachchan lost his composure to members of the paparazzi. The actor, who came with his father Amitabh Bachchan, was witnessed asking the photographers to be dignified about the proceedings.
Amidst the charged emotional environment, paparazzi kept on clicking. Abhishek went up to a cameraman, chatted briefly with him, and even walked a shutterbug’s hand away that continued filming him. A video of the encounter has now become viral on social media, fuelling debate about celebrity privacy in times of trauma.
Father-Son Duo Attend Funeral in Silence
In a video clip uploaded on the Internet, Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, who wore white, were noticed solemnly taking part in the ritual and paying their last respects. Their respectable presence was noticed by most internet users and Manoj Kumar’s fans alike.
Tributes Pour in for Manoj Kumar
Most of the celebrities gave their homage to Manoj Kumar on social media, sharing heartfelt memories. Saira Banu, the veteran actress who co-starred in Purab Aur Paschim and Shaadi, wrote a heartfelt note describing his generous nature on sets.
“But Manoj ji, with his unspoken understanding and infinite grace, would just walk off the set whenever my solo shots were being shot just so I could relax,” she wrote. “We were both not people of many words, but there was an unspoken comfort in our working relationship that needed no explanation.”
Recalling the Legendary Career of Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar began with the 1957 film Fashion, but Kanch Ki Gudiya (1961) catapulted him to fame. As the star who became famous playing patriotic roles, he acted in landmark films such as Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981). These made his reputation as “Bharat Kumar,” the nickname that he earned for working solely in nationalist films.
His passing is the end of an influential period in Indian film-making, leaving his imprint on generations of actors and directors.