Players from Pakistan, who once played cricket and hockey, have shared wonderful memories of the legendary Bollywood actor and director Manoj Kumar, who recently passed away. They fondly remember him as warm and smart during their interactions with him on tours to India. Manoj Kumar died on April 4 in Mumbai after a long illness, and people across the border felt the loss deeply.
Born in Abbottabad, a lovely hilly area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Manoj moved to India before the partition in 1947. There, he carved out a successful career in Bollywood, becoming much loved by many. Sikander Bakht, a former Pakistan cricketer, shared that he never actually met Manoj but always appreciated his sweet gesture. Back in 1979, after Bakht took eight wickets in a Test match in Delhi, Kumar sent him a cake to congratulate him. This act of kindness stuck with Bakht, and he remembers it fondly, even though they never had a chance to meet in person during that trip.
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Iqbal Qasim, another former cricketer, spoke about Manoj’s generosity as well. He recalled how, during the 1987 tour, Kumar invited the whole team over for dinner. Qasim noted that Kumar was not only generous but also had a great understanding of cricket, showing real interest in some of the Pakistani players. His passion for the sport impressed everyone.
Manoj had cherished memories of his childhood home back in Abbottabad. In 1979, he made a special trip back to his hometown, where he brought back local pastries for his mother and even collected water for his father. He also brought in famous Pakistani hero Mohammad Ali to star in his movie Clerk in 1989, which featured other big names like Rekha and Shashi Kapoor.
The people from Abbottabad were heartbroken to hear about his passing and sent their condolences through various channels. Moeen-uddin Qureshi shared that they were all saddened by the news and expressed their sympathy to Manoj’s family. He remembered how Kumar’s visit about 40 years ago was a big occasion for the entire city. “He felt like one of our own,” Moeen-uddin said.
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Former hockey players Islahuddin and Sami Ullah also had great memories of Kumar’s kindness when the Pakistan hockey team visited in 1978. Islahuddin spoke about how he and his teammates were invited by Kumar and Duleep Kumar to their studios. They enjoyed watching shooting scenes and were treated to delicious food. Sami, known for his speed on the field, reminisced about meeting Manoj. Although he had watched films like Daag and Clerk, meeting Kumar in person made a lasting impression. Sami described him as simple yet intelligent, with a keen interest in hockey and knowledge about some of the players.
During their time with him, they got to watch scenes being filmed for Burning Train and had discussions about Abbottabad, field hockey, cricket, and, of course, Bollywood. They all agreed that Manoj Kumar was an incredible person who left a positive mark on those he met. His memory will definitely live on, bringing back smiles with every shared story.
