Throughout his career, Kumar has shown (sometimes directed) that these films focus on solidarity and national pride.

Indian actor Manoj Kumar is known for his role in a patriotic-themed Hindi film at the age of 87.

His son Kunal Goswami told India’s ANI news agency that Kumar died in Mumbai due to heart-related complications.

“He has long-standing health-related issues. It is God’s grace to bid peacefully against the world. His cremation will take place tomorrow (Saturday)” Gauswamy said.

Throughout his career, Kumar has been known for acting (sometimes director) films that focus on solidarity and national pride. For this purpose, he is often called “Bharat” Kumar, a reference to ancient Indian Sanskrit.

He was born in Harikrishan Goswami, who changed his name to Manoj Kumar after Bollywood tradition.

He made his debut in Indian cinemas in the late 1950s and then appeared in several films with patriotic themes, including Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), and Kranti (1981).

Kumar has won several national awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinemas.

He is also a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi expressed his condolences, calling Kumar the “idol” of Indian films and said his work “inspires national pride and will continue to inspire generations.”

Indian President Droupadi Murmu posted on X that she was “sorry about the death of the legendary actor and filmmaker”.

“He left an indelible mark in Indian cinemas,” she wrote.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar said in his tribute that he “had learned from him since he was a child and had no feelings like love and pride for our country.”

“Who would have wanted to do it if we didn’t take the lead in showing this emotion? Such a good person is also one of our biggest assets in fraternity,” Akshay Kumar said on X.