Being a star's son is a double-edged sword, says Kunal Goswami
Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar , celebrated for his patriotic films and notable contribution to Indian cinema , passed away on April 4. In a conversation with BT, his son and actor Kunal Goswami reflects on his father’s legacy and his own journey in films. Excerpts:
How would you describe your bond with Manoj Kumar — as both a son and an actor?
As a son and actor, I’ve had the privilege of learning and unlearning many things about cinema and life from him. My father was affectionately known as Mr Bharat because he embodied patriotism. He pursued acting with great passion and dedication. Films like Upkar , Purab Aur Pachhim and Shaheed reflect how deeply patriotism was rooted in him — and we, his children, saw and lived that passion every day.
Did you always want to become an actor?
I was too young to make that decision myself. One day, my father simply said, “Chalo, aana hai set pe?” and suddenly, I was surrounded by the media and thousands of people while he was directing a scene with Dilip Kumar saab and Hema Maliniji. I was around 14 when I made my debut. I went on to work in Ghunghroo with Prakash Mehra and Kalakar with Sridevi, which became popular for its music. I acted in around 10 films, but things didn’t quite take off. After my father directed me in Jai Hind (2000), I decided to step away from the film industry.
Was it a tough decision to make?
I didn’t want to cling to the idea of “once an actor, always an actor,” especially if it meant accepting roles that didn’t feel right. Being a star’s son is a double-edged sword — you get an initial platform, but there are assumptions. Many filmmakers believed they had to approach me through my father, who wasn’t very social or easily approachable. This hesitation worked against me. I reached out to filmmakers myself, but strong roles never came my way. Others like Kumar Gaurav and Chimpoo Kapoor went through similar struggles. Eventually, I moved into the catering business. My father encouraged me to stay in films because he saw my creative side, but he never forced me. Acting may be behind me, but I do hope to direct a film someday.
Do you plan to remake any of your father’s films to take his legacy forward?
No, I don’t think those films can be remade. You can remake a Don — it’s a commercial film, much like James Bond — but films like Upkar, Purab Aur Pachhim or Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan are in a league of their own. The emotional depth and context they carried can’t be replicated. Even though multiple versions of Shaheed have been made since, people still remember Manoj Kumar as the original Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
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How would you describe your bond with Manoj Kumar — as both a son and an actor?
As a son and actor, I’ve had the privilege of learning and unlearning many things about cinema and life from him. My father was affectionately known as Mr Bharat because he embodied patriotism. He pursued acting with great passion and dedication. Films like Upkar , Purab Aur Pachhim and Shaheed reflect how deeply patriotism was rooted in him — and we, his children, saw and lived that passion every day.
Did you always want to become an actor?
I was too young to make that decision myself. One day, my father simply said, “Chalo, aana hai set pe?” and suddenly, I was surrounded by the media and thousands of people while he was directing a scene with Dilip Kumar saab and Hema Maliniji. I was around 14 when I made my debut. I went on to work in Ghunghroo with Prakash Mehra and Kalakar with Sridevi, which became popular for its music. I acted in around 10 films, but things didn’t quite take off. After my father directed me in Jai Hind (2000), I decided to step away from the film industry.
Was it a tough decision to make?
I didn’t want to cling to the idea of “once an actor, always an actor,” especially if it meant accepting roles that didn’t feel right. Being a star’s son is a double-edged sword — you get an initial platform, but there are assumptions. Many filmmakers believed they had to approach me through my father, who wasn’t very social or easily approachable. This hesitation worked against me. I reached out to filmmakers myself, but strong roles never came my way. Others like Kumar Gaurav and Chimpoo Kapoor went through similar struggles. Eventually, I moved into the catering business. My father encouraged me to stay in films because he saw my creative side, but he never forced me. Acting may be behind me, but I do hope to direct a film someday.
Do you plan to remake any of your father’s films to take his legacy forward?
No, I don’t think those films can be remade. You can remake a Don — it’s a commercial film, much like James Bond — but films like Upkar, Purab Aur Pachhim or Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan are in a league of their own. The emotional depth and context they carried can’t be replicated. Even though multiple versions of Shaheed have been made since, people still remember Manoj Kumar as the original Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
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