Akshay Kumar pays tribute to Manoj Kumar, Anand Mahindra, Madhur Bhandarkar and other celebs mourn the 'Upkar' actor's demise

Legendary actor Manoj Kumar who is known for movies like 'Upkar', 'Roti Kapda Aur Makaan', 'Kranti', 'Purab Aur Pachhim' amidst many more passed away on Friday, April 4. The actor passed away at the age of 87 due to prolonged illness. As per reports, he breathed his last at the Dhirubhai Ambani hospital. As the actor passes away, the industry is sad and many celebs have mourned his death.

Akshay Kumar expressed grief and said, "I grew up learning from him that there’s no emotion like love and pride for our country. And if we actors won’t take the lead in showing this emotion, who will? Such a fine person, and one of the biggest assets of our fraternity. RIP Manoj Sir. Om Shanti 🙏"

I grew up learning from him that there’s no emotion like love and pride for our country. And if we actors won’t take the lead in showing this emotion, who will? Such a fine person, and one of the biggest assets of our fraternity. RIP Manoj Sir. Om Shanti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sr8U4Wkqgq

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 4, 2025

See more: Manoj Kumar Death News: Manoj Kumar Passes Away Live Update

Manoj Kumar had once said that Akshay Kumar could be his patriotic successor with the kind of movies he's doing.

Anand Mahindra also penned a note on X (Formerly Twitter) and said, "मुझे ऐसा लग रहा है जैसे मैंने अपने बचपन का कोई अहम हिस्सा खो दिया है। मेरे परिवार ने कभी भी मनोज कुमार की कोई फिल्म मिस नहीं की। और मुझे याद है कि जब फिल्म पूरब और पश्चिम रिलीज हुई थी, इस फिल्म ने जो देशभक्ति का जज्बा जगाया, वह अभूतपूर्व था। मनोज कुमार एक अभिनेता से हर परिवार के सदस्य बन गए। आज मैं परिवार के एक सदस्य के निधन पर शोक व्यक्त करता हूं। ओम शांति🙏🏽"

मुझे ऐसा लग रहा है जैसे मैंने अपने बचपन का कोई अहम हिस्सा खो दिया है।

मेरे परिवार ने कभी भी मनोज कुमार की कोई फिल्म मिस नहीं की। और मुझे याद है कि जब फिल्म पूरब और पश्चिम रिलीज हुई थी, इस फिल्म ने जो देशभक्ति का जज्बा जगाया, वह अभूतपूर्व था।

मनोज कुमार एक अभिनेता से हर परिवार… pic.twitter.com/c0NbgKjYE9

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 4, 2025

Film-maker Vivek Agnihotri reacted and expressed, "India’s first truly original and committed Indic filmmaker, Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Shri Manoj Kumar ji, left us today. A proud nationalist. A staunch Hindu at heart. A visionary director who gave Indian cinema a new grammar — of song picturisation, of meaningful lyrics, of cinema that didn’t just entertain but remembered to belong. He made patriotism cinematic, without noise. He made nationalism poetic, without apology."

See more: Manoj Kumar Death News: Legendary Actor Manoj Kumar Dies at 87: A Tribute to 'Bharat Kumar'

India’s first truly original and committed Indic filmmaker, Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Shri Manoj Kumar ji, left us today.

A proud nationalist.
A staunch Hindu at heart.
A visionary director who gave Indian cinema a new grammar — of song picturisation, of meaningful lyrics, of… pic.twitter.com/Te8PNBbIv5

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) April 4, 2025

Agnihotri further said that patriots like him never die. "In a time of borrowed voices and secondhand aesthetics, he dared to be rooted.Patriots and artists like him never die. They simply transcend — into memory, into celluloid, into the nation’s heartbeat."

Madhur Bhandarkar shared photos with the the late actor and expressed, "I am saddened by the passing of the legendary actor & filmmaker, Manoj Kumar Sir, I had the privilege of interacting with him at many occasions , and he was truly an icon of Indian cinema. His storytelling & song picturizations in his films inspired national pride and will resonate for generations. 🙏My deepest condolences to his family members & admirers. #OmShanti 🙏"

I am saddened by the passing of the legendary actor & filmmaker, Manoj Kumar Sir, I had the privilege of interacting with him at many occasions , and he was truly an icon of Indian cinema. His storytelling & song picturizations in his films inspired national pride and will… pic.twitter.com/dZCyDFfIQh

— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) April 4, 2025

PM Modi also mourned the actor's demise.