Veteran Bollywood actor and director Manoj Kumar, best known for his patriotic movies, died at the age of 87 in Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.He died from cardiogenic shock secondary to an acute myocardial infarction, and decompensated liver cirrhosis secondary complications.

Manoj Kumar was born Harikishan Giri Goswami on July 24, 1937, in Abbottabad, British India (now Pakistan). Manoj Kumar's family had to migrate to Delhi during the Partition. He took the screen name 'Manoj Kumar' and entered acting in 1957.

He gained fame with films like "Hariyali Aur Raasta" (1962) and "Woh Kaun Thi?" (1964). However, it was by his depiction of nationalistic concerns in films such as "Upkar" (1967), "Purab Aur Paschim" (1970), and "Kranti" (1981) that he earned the title of 'Bharat Kumar'. Manoj Kumar's work in Indian cinema was rewarded with various awards, such as the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015. His films tended to reflect real life issues and created a sense of nationalism, resonating largely with the people.

His son, Kunal Goswami, reminisced about his father's last moments, saying, "He peacefully breathed his last by God's grace and Sai Baba's blessings." His cremation will take place on April 5 in Mumbai.

Condolences have been streaming in from different quarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his message of condolence, sharing a throwback photo with the late actor and lamenting the kind of impact he left on Indian cinema. Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Kangana Ranaut also mourned the loss, thanking him for memories created by his films. Manoj Kumar's image as a stalwart of Indian cinema stands firm, with the movies that he produced continuing to influence and foster patriotism among audiences.