Manoj Kumar's co-actor Zeenat Aman pens emotional note for him

IANS April 5, 2025 345 views

Bollywood has lost a legendary filmmaker and actor with the passing of Manoj Kumar, known for his patriotic cinema. Zeenat Aman, his co-star from 'Roti Kapda Aur Makaan', shared an emotional tribute on social media. Industry veterans like Subhash Ghai and Raj Babbar praised his immense contribution to Indian cinema. Kumar was given a state funeral in Mumbai, with numerous film personalities present to pay their final respects.

"Manoj Kumar worked towards solidifying the dignity of India" - Raj Babbar
Manoj Kumar's co-actor Zeenat Aman pens emotional note for him
Mumbai, April 5: Yesteryear diva Zeenat Aman expressed her grief on the passing away of the legendary actor and director, Manoj Kumar.

Key Points

1

Zeenat Aman shares emotional tribute to her 'Roti Kapda' co-star

2

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai calls him an industry inspiration

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Raj Babbar advocates Bharat Ratna for late actor

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State funeral held in Mumbai with film fraternity present

Posting a throwback image with Bharat Kumar, Zeenat penned on her Instagram handle, "Saddened to learn about the passing of Manoj Kumar, May his soul rest in peace."

Manoj Kumar and Zeenat were seen as the leads, Bharat and Sheetal, in the 1974 drama 'Roti Kapda Aur Makaan', directed by Manoj Kumar himself. The film turned out to be a massive hit, becoming the highest-grossing title of the year. 'Roti Kapda Aur Makaan' talks about a man tasked with looking after his family after his father’s demise. The song 'Main Na Bhoolunga' from the movie is still inked in the memory of movie buffs.

Meanwhile, filmmaker Subhash Ghai believes that Manoj Kumar was one of the finest filmmakers in the country, whose work continues to inspire everyone.

He told IANS, “The biggest inspiration for the industry is a filmmaker. If we have ten filmmakers in India, who have been an inspiration for the coming generation, he was one of the finest we had, the biggest filmmaker and an actor”.

Additionally, veteran actor Raj Babbar mourned the demise of Manoj Kumar. Calling for India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna for the late actor, Babbar told IANS, “The film industry has lost a gem today. Manoj Kumar worked towards solidifying the dignity of India, paid respects to the freedom fighters of India through his work in cinema. A director, writer, and actor, who spoke about patriotism. He was very noble, and made a place for himself in the hearts of people through love”.

Manoj Kumar's last rites took place in the Vile Parle area of Mumbai today. He was given a state funeral with the Guard of Honour during his last rites.

Numerous members of the film fraternity including Amitabh Bachchan, Salim Khan, Prem Chopra, Raza Murad, Vindu Dara Singh, Anu Malik, and Dheeraj Kumar were also present to pay their last respects.

Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Such a heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema 😢 Manoj Kumar's patriotic films shaped my childhood. "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan" was ahead of its time. May his soul rest in peace.
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Rahul S.
While I respect his contributions, I always felt his films were too idealistic. The world isn't as black and white as he portrayed. Still, his passion was undeniable.
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Anjali M.
Zeenat Aman's tribute is so touching 💔 Their chemistry in RKAM was magical. "Main Na Bhoolunga" still gives me goosebumps! Legends never die, they live on through their art.
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Vikram P.
My grandfather used to tell me stories about queuing up for hours to watch Manoj Kumar's films. The state funeral was well-deserved - he truly was Bharat Kumar.
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Sunita R.
Can we talk about how Zeenat Aman still writes the most eloquent tributes? Both these legends represent the golden era of Hindi cinema that we'll never see again.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Manoj Kumar Zeenat Aman Bollywood Roti Kapda Aur Makaan Patriotic Cinema Indian Film Industry
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