When Manoj Kumar reflected on Mangal Pandey’s box office failure and why Aamir Khan was ‘best suited’ for patriotic films |

Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, known for his deep-rooted patriotic films, once stated that Aamir Khan was the most fitting choice among contemporary actors to portray nationalist characters.
Before his passing at the age of 87 on Friday at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Kumar had spoken extensively to TOI about the evolution of patriotic cinema in Bollywood. Fondly known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his iconic roles in films such as Shaheed (1965), Upkar (1967), and Purab Aur Paschim (1970), he had lamented the decline of patriotic storytelling in modern times.

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Reflecting on his own cinematic journey, Kumar had said, “The feel of patriotism might be the common factor in my onscreen avatars, yet they were all very different from each other. All my characters had different circumstances and challenges, just like different individuals. I can’t really compare them—all my characters are very close to my heart.”
However, he expressed disappointment over the rarity of patriotic films, citing Rang De Basanti and Chak De! India as exceptions. “By and large, society is moving away from patriotism. Today’s youth has no icons, no role models to follow. They really need leaders who can inspire them,” he remarked.

Kumar also analysed Bollywood’s approach to patriotic themes, pointing out that films like Mangal Pandey failed due to their “shallow” execution, while Rang De Basanti succeeded in striking a chord with young audiences. He strongly believed that well-crafted patriotic films would still resonate with viewers today.
When asked which contemporary actor he thought could excel in such roles, Kumar had a clear answer, “Aamir Khan is definitely the best-suited actor for such roles. I really liked him in Taare Zameen Par and Rang De Basanti.”
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Speaking about the love the audience has shown him for his films, he said, “I rejoice in all the love and respect I have received from my audience. To maintain the dignity of this name I have also worked very hard and sacrificed a lot, at various steps of my life.”