In a poignant and heartfelt tribute, legendary actor Dharmendra opened up about the loss of his dear friend and colleague, Manoj Kumar. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, the veteran star shared memories of their early struggles, mutual admiration, and the special bond they shared—one that went far beyond the silver screen.
“I have lost another friend,” Dharmendra said with deep sorrow. “It saddens me to see so many of my dear friends go.”
Their journeys into cinema began around the same time, both coming from Punjab, strangers to the glittering world of films, and strangers in the film industry itself. “We had no connections, no idea about acting,” Dharmendra recalled. “We learnt everything on the job. Bahot bhookh thi hum mein sikhne ki—we were hungry to learn.”
Reflecting on their striking screen presence, one can’t help but recall how Dharmendra and Manoj Kumar were often referred to as two of the most handsome men to grace Hindi cinema. When reminded of this, Dharamji responded with a modest laugh. “Yeh to logon ka pyaar hai. It’s how people saw us. There were many actors who were more handsome than us.”
Their rare on-screen collaborations often sparked fan conversations—why weren’t these two icons seen together more often? Dharmendra offered a simple explanation. “It’s true, we didn’t do many films together. And even in the ones we did, we were rarely in the same frame. But our bonding wasn’t limited to our professional lives. We felt a deep connection because of our shared roots and similar beginnings.”
Despite their closeness, Dharmendra never acted in any of Manoj Kumar’s directorial ventures, something he seems to genuinely regret. “As an actor, he was immensely successful. But as a director, he surpassed all expectations. He was incredibly knowledgeable about every aspect of cinema—completely self-taught.”
“In our time, there were no film schools,” Dharmendra said, reflecting on the learning curve of their era. “We learnt everything while working. Manoj was a student of cinema all his life. Ussey bada shauq tha sikhne ka aur sikhane ka—he had a deep passion for learning and teaching.”
