Why Was Manoj Kumar Called a Perfectionist? Cousin Shares an Incident from ‘Kranti’
On April 4, legendary Bollywood actor, director, and producer Manoj Kumar passed away at the age of 87 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. Remembered for his iconic contributions to Indian cinema, he was also known for his unwavering dedication to perfection. His cousin, Manish Goswami, recently shared an anecdote from the film Kranti that perfectly illustrates this trait.
In an interview with Vicky Lalwani, Manish revealed that Manoj Kumar never compromised when it came to the quality of a scene. He said, “Even if a shot required 30, 40, or even 50 retakes, he was always willing to do whatever it took to get it right.”
Recalling an incident during the shooting of Kranti, Manish shared that actress Parveen Babi had to give 66 retakes for a single shot. The team was filming in a palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. In the scene, Parveen had to raise her hand against a wall and shout “Kranti Zindabad!” However, she struggled to deliver the shot the way Manoj Kumar had envisioned. Despite the challenge, Manoj remained calm and patient. The final take was completed at 2 a.m., but not once did he lose his temper or express frustration.
Describing the atmosphere on set, Manish said, “If Manoj Kumar tied a handkerchief around his forehead, it meant he was under pressure. At such times, no one from the unit dared to mention pack-up.” Still, most of the filming usually went according to schedule.
He also spoke about Manoj Kumar’s strong sense of punctuality. “He was extremely strict about timing but knew how to handle things professionally. If he was scheduled for a 9 a.m. shift, he’d arrive on time and make sure everyone wrapped up on time too. But if someone arrived at noon for a 9 a.m. call time, they’d only be allowed to leave at noon.”
This dedication, discipline, and pursuit of excellence earned Manoj Kumar the well-deserved reputation of being a true perfectionist in the world of cinema.
