Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee remembers his late friend Manoj Kumar

IANS April 4, 2025 156 views

Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee has shared touching memories of his late friend Manoj Kumar, highlighting their deep personal connection. Their friendship began in the early days of Bollywood, marked by mutual respect and shared passion for cinema. Biswajit praised Kumar's unique contribution to patriotic films, particularly remembering his iconic role in 'Shaheed'. The emotional tribute reveals the profound bond between two legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema's golden era.

"The work that he has done has not been done by any other actor or director of the country" - Biswajit Chatterjee
Mumbai, April 4: Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee remembered his late friend, Manoj Kumar as he left for a heavenly abode on Friday at the age of 87.

Key Points

1

Biswajit remembers Manoj Kumar's unparalleled contribution to patriotic cinema

2

Their friendship spanned decades of Bollywood history

3

Emotional tribute highlights personal connection beyond professional collaboration

4

Unexpected revelation about Manoj Kumar's health condition

Talking about the legendary actor and director, Biswajit said, "The work that he has done has not been done by any other actor or director of the country. It is even difficult to try and do the work done by him.

The 'Night in London' actor added, "All the movies made by him are on the subject of patriotism. The first film by Manoj Kumar that I watched was 'Shaheed'- in which he played the role of Bhagat Singh. He used to inspire us. I joined Bollywood at the same time as Manoj Kumar and Dharmendra and hence we ended up becoming friends - a friendship that stood the test of time."

He revealed that he was totally unaware that Manoj Kumar had been suffering from health issues.

"Shashi Bhabhi (Manoj Kumar's wife) told me that he was in the hospital for a long time- this left me shocked as he was in touch with me through WhatsApp- sending me images, songs, and poetry. I used to get texts from him saying 'How are you Bishu' - so I was under the impression that he was fine. However, now I learned that he was suffering for a long time," Biswajit shared.

Biswajit also spilled the beans on his equation with his counterpart. Recalling a particular incident, he shared, "Once I came to meet him and he told Kunal (Manoj Kumar's son) to bring me upstairs. We watched television together in his bedroom and had a heart-to-heart. He used to praise me saying- your song 'Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil' is the best song. I used to counter him saying that his song 'Naina Barse' is the best- this was the kind of conversation we used to have."

Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
Such a beautiful friendship they shared! ❤️ The golden era of Bollywood had such genuine bonds between stars. Manoj Kumar's patriotic films shaped my childhood.
R
Rahul S.
While I respect both actors, I think the article could have included more about Manoj Kumar's directorial achievements too. Bharat Ka Veer Putra was a masterpiece!
A
Anjali M.
"Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil" vs "Naina Barse" - what a delightful debate between legends! Makes me want to revisit both songs tonight 🎶
V
Vikram P.
The WhatsApp detail got me emotional. Even at that age, he was tech-savvy enough to stay connected with friends. True friendship never fades.
S
Sunita R.
My father used to tell me stories about watching Shaheed in theaters. Manoj Kumar's portrayal of Bhagat Singh inspired a whole generation. Rest in peace legend.
K
Karan D.
The part about watching TV together in his bedroom is so heartwarming. These small moments are what real friendships are made of. Gone are those simple days.

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

Tags:
Biswajit Chatterjee Manoj Kumar Bollywood Veteran Friendship Patriotic Cinema Indian Movies
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