Manoj Kumar, or his on screen avatar Bharat, is the face of popular patriotism in Indian cinema. Highly inspired by Dilip Kumar, Manoj Kumar in fact borrowed his name from a character played by the stalwart in the film Shabnam. His big break was Honeymoon opposite Sayeda Khan in 1960 and he came into his own with films such as Hariyali Aur Raasta , Woh Kaun Thi (1964), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965). But it was with Shaheed that he got out of the Dilip Kumar groove The then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to come up with a film woven around the popular nationalist slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan” The result was Manoj Kumar’s piece de resistance, Upkar. A magnificent success, the film can be credited with securing Manoj Kumar’s standing as a filmmaker to this day. Purab Aur Paschim, Shor, Roti Kapda aur Makaan established him as an unstoppable filmmaker of pro-India sentiment though he did dabble in other kinds of roles like a romantic hero in Patthar Ke Sanam and a hapless bystander in thrillers such as Gumnaam, Anita and Saajan. Kranti was the culmination of his long cinematic journey and gave him the chance to direct his hero and inspiration, Dilip Kumar. His career rapidly deteriorated soon after with one damp squib after another, namely Clerk, Maidan e Jang and Jai Hind- a failed attempt at establishing his son, Kunal Goswami, as a hero.