Manoj Kumar is a very famous and versatile actor and director in the bollywood. He was born on 24th July, 1937 at Abbottabad, a town of the North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. He was born Harikishan Giri Goswami. His family moved to India at the time of partition and settled in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan. He was only ten years of age at that time. It was his decision to enter the film world after completing graduation from Hindu College of University of Delhi. He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes. He changed his name after seeing Dilip Kumar in Shabnam (1949). He has a brother named Rajiv Goswami. Manoj Kumar is married to Shashi Goswami and has a son named Kunal Goswami.
Hit songs of Manoj Kumar are listed below:

1. Aaj Mausam - Banarasi Thug
2. Aaj Puraani Raahon Se - Aadmi
3. Aankhon Mein Shokhi - Reshmi Rumal
4. Aap Kyon Roye - Woh Kaun Thi
5. Banke Dulhniya - Shor
6. Bol Meri Taqdeer - Hariyaali Aur Raasta
7. Chaand Si Mehbooba - Himalay Ki God Mein
8. Chal Sanyaasi - Sanyasi
9. Mere Desh Ki Dharti - Upkar
10. Hai Preet Jahan Ki Reet - Purab Aur Paschim

Manoj Kumar made his debut in the year 1957 with the movie ‘Fashion‘ which was directed by Lekhraj Bhakri. He starred with Mala Sinha but the movie went unnoticed. Then he got an opportunity when he got his first leading role after three years in 1960 in the movie ‘Kaanch Ki Gudiya’ directed by Harnam Singh Rawail. He starred opposite Sayeeda Khan in the movie. Then he worked in Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961) and Reshmi Roomal (1961). This helped him to get the Vijay Bhatt-directed Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962) opposite Mala Sinha. Manoj then appeared in the movie Woh Kaun Thi directed by Raj Khosla in 1964 with 1960s icon Sadhana. After that he reunited with Vijay Bhatt and Mala Sinha and acted in superhit movie Himalaya Ki God Mein in 1965.

Manoj’s image as the patriotic hero started with the movie Shaheed in 1965. The movie was based on the life of Bhagat Singh. Then he starred and directed the superhit movie Upkar in 1967 after being asked by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to create a film based on the popular slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kissan”. He managed to play both the roles of Kissan and Soldier in the movie. The movie was also noted for the famous song “Mere Desh Ki Dharti”. It was his directorial debut movie and won him the Filmfare Best Director Award. He returned to patriotic themes in the movie Purab Aur Paschim in 1970. He has won Filmfare Best Actor Award for Be-Imaan in 1972, Filmfare Best Director Award for Roti Kapda Aur Makaan in 1975 and also Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. He got the opportunity to direct his idol Dilip Kumar in 1981 movie Kranti.