When Manoj Kumar filed defamation case against SRK: He has injured my soul

Back in 2007, when the film Om Shanti Om had released, it was a massive hit. However, as fans showered the movie with love, it was veteran actor Manoj Kumar, lovingly called Bharat Kumar by fans, who was miffed because of a particular scene. In fact, he had also filed charges against Khan and director Farah Khan.

The scene in question depicted Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Om Prakash Makhija, entering a movie premiere by using a pass belonging to Manoj Kumar, with the police failing to recognise him due to his trademark gesture. He was later lathicharged by the guards and shooed away.

“I am hurt. Shah Rukh Khan has injured my soul. It’s a conspiracy to humiliate and ridicule me. This is not filmmaking…My devotion to filmdom for the last 50 years has been insulted,” he had said. He had also demanded Re 1 as damages in the defamation suit as “the reputation of Kumar is invaluable and priceless,” as per his lawyer.

Manoj Kumar requested the removal of the scene from the film, a demand to which the filmmakers agreed. Shah Rukh Khan apologised for any hurt caused to the veteran actor, stating, “I was completely wrong. If he is hurt, I apologise.”

Despite the apology, the issue resurfaced in 2013 when Om Shanti Om was re-released in Japan with the contentious scene intact. Manoj Kumar then sought legal action, demanding Rs 100 crore in damages from Shah Rukh Khan and Eros International for not removing the scene.

Manoj Kumar expressed his disappointment, stating that the film was released in Japan without deleting the scenes, despite previous promises. He added that the legal procedures did not instil a sense of responsibility in Shah Rukh and Farah Khan. Eventually, Manoj Kumar withdrew the cases, feeling disheartened by the lack of accountability.

Manoj Kumar, known for his roles in patriotic films like Purab Aur Paschim and Kranti, died at the age of 87 in Mumbai. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital, where he died due to heart-related complications, with decompensated liver cirrhosis as a secondary cause, as per the medical certificate issued by the hospital.