Actor-director Manoj Kumar passes away at 87 after prolonged illness

Renowned actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, popularly known as 'Bharat Kumar,’ has passed away at the age of 87 after a prolonged illness.

The news was confirmed by filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who paid tribute to the actor in a video statement and revealed the award winner actor’s death at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, and that this is a huge loss to the Indian film industry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the legendary actor, who was an icon of Indian cinema and whose films showcased a spirit of national pride.

Manoj Kumar was known for his patriotic films in the early 1960s and 1970s, such as ‘Shaheed,’ ‘Upkar,’ and ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan,’ and his contributions to Indian arts earned him several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 2015.

[Source: Times of India]