Indian actor and filmmakerFor other people named Manoj *ar, see Manoj *ar (disambiguation).

Harikishan Giri Goswami (born 24 July 1937), better known by his stage name Manoj *ar, is an Indian retired actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for acting and making films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname Bharat *ar. He is the recipient of a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards, in varied categories.

Contents

• 1 Early life
• 2 Career
  • 2.1 Film work
  • 2.2 Peak of his career
  • 2.3 Later career
  • 2.4 Politics
• 3 Personal life
• 4 Filmography
• 5 Accolades and honours
  • 5.1 Civilian award
  • 5.2 National Film Awards
  • 5.3 State Honours
  • 5.4 Filmfare Awards
  • 5.5 BFJA Awards
  • 5.6 Other Awards
  • 5.7 Other honours
• 6 References
  • 6.1 Notes
  • 6.2 Citations
• 7 External links

Early life

*ar was born in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). His original birth name was Harikishan Giri Goswami. When he was 10, his family had to migrate from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to the Par*ion His family lived as refugees in Vijay Nagar, Kingsway Camp and later moved to Old Rajendra Nagar area of New Delhi.

After graduating from Hindu College, University of Delhi, he decided to enter the film industry.

Career

When he was young, he admired actors Dilip *ar, Ashok *ar and Kamini Kaushal and decided to name himself Manoj *ar, after Dilip *ar's character in Shabnam.

After making a little-noticed début in Fashion in 1957, *ar landed his first leading role in Kaanch Ki Gudia (1960) opposite Saida Khan. Piya Milan Ki Aas and Reshmi Roomal followed, setting the stage for the Vijay Bhatt-directed Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) opposite Mala Sinha. *ar then appeared with Sadhana in Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi (1964), and reunited with Vijay Bhatt and Mala Sinha in Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965). *ar and Raj Khosla repeated their successful actor-director partnership with the film Do Badan, which was remembered for many reasons, including Raj Khosla's direction, *ar and the *e Asha Parekh's performance and songs written by the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni, among others.

Manoj with filmmaker Yash Chopra in 2010

Film work

In the 1960s his successful films included romantic films like Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan and Sawan Ki Ghata and social films such as Shaadi, Grihasti, Apne Huwe Paraye, and Aadmi and thrillers such as Gumnaam, Anita, and Woh Kaun Thi and comedy film like Picnic.

*ar's starred in the 1965 film Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh, the Independence revolutionary. After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan (hail the soldier, hail the farmer).

The result was *ar's directorial debut Upkaar (1967). In this award-winning film, he played both a soldier and a farmer. The film was also noted for the famous song "Mere Desh Ki Dharti", written by Gulshan Bawra, composed by Kalyanji-Anandji and sung by Mahendra Kapoor. Upkaar was declared a blockbuster and won him his first Filmfare Best Director Award.

He returned to patriotic themes in Purab Aur Paschim (1970), in which life in the East and West are juxtaposed. The film Pehchaan directed by Sohanlal Kanwar had *ar opposite Babita and was successful.

In 1972, he starred in Be-Imaan (for which he won the Best Actor) and later directed and starred in Shor (1972). The latter, opposite Nanda, was not a huge box office success on its release, but has gained cult status over the years. It featured the memorable song "Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai", a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, which was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and written by Santosh Anand.

He consistently liked working with actors Prem Nath, Pran, Prem Chopra, Kamini Kaushal and Hema Malini in his career. His closest friends from the industry included Raj Kapoor, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, Dharmendra, Rajendra *ar, Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna.

Peak of his career

In the mid-1970s *ar starred in three hit films; Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) which was a social commentary, featuring an all-star cast including Zeenat Aman, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan. He won his second Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film Roti Kapda Makan. Sanyasi, a religious-themed comedy, starring *ar and Hema Malini, was hugely successful. Dus Numbri (1976) also gave *ar, Pran, Prem Nath and Hema top billing.

In 1981, *ar reached the peak of his career when he got the opportunity to direct his idol, Dilip *ar, as well as to star in Kranti, a story about the struggle for Indian independence in the 19th century. Kranti was the last notable successful Hindi film in his career. He also starred in the hit Punjabi film Jat Punjabi.

Later career

After Kranti in 1981, *ar's career began to decline, when the films he did with him in lead role like Kalyug Aur Ramayan in 1987 and later Clerk in 1989 failed at the box office. In 1989, he cast Pakistani actors Mohammad Ali and Zeba in his film Clerk. He quit acting after his appearance in the 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung. He directed his son, Kunal Goswami, in the 1999 film Jai Hind which had a patriotic theme. The film was a flop and was the last film *ar worked on.

He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for a career spanning over 40 years.

His trademark hand-covering-the-face was very popular and continues to be the butt of jokes of latter day stand-up comedians. In 2007, the Shah Rukh Khan film Om Shanti Om featured the lead character pretending to be Manoj *ar so as to sneak into a movie premiere, by holding his hand over his face. *ar filed a lawsuit, which was settled out of court.

Manoj with Subhash Ghai, Manoj Bajpayee and Manish Tewari

Politics

Manoj with politician Manish Tewari at 44th International Film Festival of India in 2013

Like many other Bollywood stars, *ar decided to enter politics following his retirement. Before the 2004 general election in India, he officially joined Bharatiya Janta Party.

Personal life

Manoj *ar is married to Shashi Goswami (originally from Jodhkan, Sirsa district, Haryana). He has two sons, Vishal and Kunal. Vishal attempted a career as a singer and Kunal, an actor. His brother, Rajiv Goswami, also entered the film industry, but none were able to gain a footing in Bollywood.

Filmography

Accolades and honours

President of India Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Manoj *ar at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2016

Civilian award

National Film Awards

State Honours

Filmfare Awards

BFJA Awards

Other Awards

• 2007 – Sardar Patel Lifetime Achievement International Award
• 2008 – Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2010 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Mumbai Film Festival
• 2012 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Award
• 2012 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashik International Film Festival
• 2012 – Bharat Gaurav Award in New Jersey, United States
• 2013 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jagran Film Festival
• 2019 – Lifetime Achievement Award from Power Brands at BFJA (Bollywood Film Journalists Awards)
• 2020 - Kalaimamani

Other honours

• 2008 – To honour Manoj *ar, the Government of Madhya Pradesh decided to ins*ute a Rs 100,000 award in his name. The state government also recommended *ar's name for Bharat Ratna to the central government.
• 2011 – In recognition of the devotion of Manoj *ar towards Shri Sai Baba, the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi renamed "Pimpalwadi Road" in Shirdi as "Manoj*ar Goswami Road".

References

Notes

Citations

External links

• Manoj *ar: Bollywood's Own Mr Bharat
• Manoj *ar:: Profile, Gallery, Photos, Videos, News
• Manoj *ar at IMDb