Dharmendra gets emotional at Manoj Kumar’s prayer meet; says, “Tu chala gaya mujhe chhod ke” : Bollywood News

The passing of legendary actor-director Manoj Kumar last week left the nation in mourning. The 87-year-old breathed his last at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Following his death, veteran actor and close friend Dharmendra, 89, visited Kumar’s residence, accompanied by his staff. Meanwhile, Kumar’s brother, Manish Goswami, reflected on his life and legacy, revealing that Manoj Kumar and Dharmendra shared a deep bond—often exchanging clothes and standing by each other through the years.

Dharmendra gets emotional at Manoj Kumar’s prayer meet; says, “Tu chala gaya mujhe chhod ke”

In a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Manish Goswami shared, “He was very close to Dharmendra ji; they used to struggle together at Ranjit Studios. One day, both of them even decided to leave Bollywood and go back to their respective villages due to lack of work.”

Manish revealed that Dharmendra always called Manoj Kumar by his real name, “Hari,” never using his stage name. “They used to share clothes, and he only addressed Manoj as Hari,” he said. “So, when he came for the prayer meet, he said, ‘Hari, tu chala gaya mujhe chhod ke.’” Manish added that Manoj Kumar also shared close bonds with many others, including Pran, Prem Chopra, and Kamini Kaushal.

Following Manoj Kumar’s passing, Dharmendra shared a nostalgic photo on Instagram, capturing a joyful moment of the two friends smiling while holding a trophy. In the picture, Dharmendra is seen in a white shirt, red tie, and grey suit, while Manoj Kumar wears a white shirt and trousers. Alongside the photo, Dharmendra wrote, “Manoj, mere yaar tere saath beeta har pal bahut yaad ayega" (Manoj, my friend, I’ll deeply miss every moment spent with you).

Manoj Kumar and Dharmendra shared the screen in several hit films, especially during the 1970s. Their notable collaborations include Rakhwala (1971), Shor (1972), and Patthar Aur Payal (1974). In each of these films, both actors played pivotal roles, adding to their popularity and the films’ success.

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