When Shah Rukh Khan personally apologised to Manoj Kumar for ¡®disrespecting¡¯ him
Veteran actor Manoj Kumar died today, April 4, following heart-related problems. He was once embroiled in a major controversy with Shah Rukh Khan after the latter mimicked/imitated him in Om Shanti Om (2007)
Manoj Kumar, one of Bollywood¡¯s most celebrated actors, is no more. He died in Mumbai on April 4 due to a heart-related ailment. He was 87. The star was loved by many in the era gone by because of his unique mannerisms and charismatic personality. While everyone knows about his legacy, some may not remember that he once lashed out at Shah Rukh for ¡®insulting¡¯ him in Om Shanti Om (2007)
When Shah Rukh Khan aplogised to Manoj Kumar following the Om Shanti Om row
Shah Rukh Khan¡¯s Om Shanti Om featured a scene in which his character imitated Manoj Kumar by covering his face with his hands. This upset the Purab Aur Paschim actor, who threatened to file a lawsuit against the makers if the said scene was not removed. He again lost his cool when Om Shanti Om was released in Japan with the sequence intact. He then sued the makers and demanded Rs 100 crore in damages.
Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films. Manoj Ji's works ignited a spirit of national pride and will¡ pic.twitter.com/f8pYqOxol3
¡ª Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025
According to Free Press Journal, Manoj Kumar¡¯s lawyer said that SRK personally apologised to the veteran actor over email after the controversy. However, despite this, the objectionable scene was retained in the version released in Japan.
¡°The film was released in Japan without deleting those scenes. I had forgiven them twice, but not this time. They have disrespected me. They also face contempt of court as in 2008 the court had asked them to forever and from all prints and broadcast material, delete those scenes," Kumar had said.
The veteran star eventually withdrew the case in 2013.
About Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar, meanwhile, died on April 4. He had been battling health issues for a long time. He began his career with Fashion (1957) and soon emerged as a bankable star. His credits include Purab Aur Paschim, Upkar, and Kranti.
Roktim Rajpal is a Principal Digital Content Producer at Indiatimes. He has been an entertainment journalist for a decade. Roktim is a movie buff and specialises in covering South cinema and Bollywood. He also takes a keen interest in web series.
Read More