Farewell to Bharat Kumar: Manoj Kumar Cremated with State Honours

Veteran actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar, fondly dubbed ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his iconic patriotic roles, was cremated with full state honours on Saturday at Mumbai’s Pawan Hans crematorium in Juhu.

The 87-year-old cinema legend, who passed away on Friday due to age-related ailments at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, received a three-gun salute as his sons, Vishal and Kunal, lit the funeral pyre at 11:30 am. His body, draped in the tricolour, reflected the nationalism he championed in films like Upkar, Shaheed, and Kranti.

The last rites drew luminaries like Amitabh Bachchan, Salim Khan, Raj Babbar, and Subhash Ghai, alongside Abhishek Bachchan, Arbaaz Khan, and Prem Chopra, who mourned the loss of a friend and collaborator. Chopra, a co-star in classics like Shaheed and Purab Aur Paschim, reminisced, “We made movies with passion.

Even today, Shaheed earns me calls—he was thrilled with my Sukhdev.” Raj Babbar hailed Kumar as a “precious gem” who showcased India’s pride globally, recalling seeking his blessings for Shaheed Udham Singh.

Kumar’s journey began as Harikrishan Goswami in pre-Partition Abbottabad, moving to Delhi in 1947 before graduating from Hindu College and storming Bollywood. His ambulance, adorned with tricolour flowers, left his Juhu home at 10:30 am, where a youthful photo greeted mourners. Tributes poured in from Dharmendra, Madhur Bhandarkar, and others Friday night. Survived by his wife Shashi and sons, Kumar’s legacy as a patriot onscreen endures in hearts and history.