Veteran Bollywood actor and director Manoj Kumar will be bestowed with the 47th Dadasaheb Phalke award this year for outstanding contribution in the growth and development of Indian Cinema. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal (Golden lotus), a cash prize of `10 lakh and a shawl.
Kumar has been chosen for the honour on the basis of recommendations of an five-member committee comprising lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh and Anup Jalota.
The 78-year-old actor, known for his patriotic films as Kranti, Woh Kaun Thi, Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, earned the epithet of Bharat Kumar. He was honoured with Padma Shri in 1992.
His image as a nationalist actor started with the film Shaheed in 1965 which was based on the life of Bhagat Singh. After the India-Pakistan war in the same year, then Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri had asked him to make a film based on the popular slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. The result was Kumar’s magnum opus and his directorial debut, Upkaar in 1967. The film also earned him a National Film Award.
He is also remembered for films as Hariyali Aur Raasta, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Do Badan, Patthar Ke Sanam, Neel Kamal, etc.
Manoj Kumar was born in July 1937 in Abbottabad, which is now a part of Pakistan. He shifted to Delhi at the age of ten and graduated from Hindu College under the Delhi University. He made his debut in Hindi Film industry with Fashion in 1957, which drew little attention. However, his first leading role came with Kaanch Ki Gudia in 1960.
His array of successful films include Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan, Sawan Ki Ghata among others.