Manoj Kumar was born as Harikrishan Guru Goswami on July 24, 1937, into a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family in Abbottabad. When Manoj was just 10, his family migrated from North-West Frontier Province, British India, to Jandiala Sher Khan in Delhi after the partition. After coming to Delhi, Manoj Kumar took admission to Delhi Univesity’s Hindu College, from where he pursued a degree in Bachelor of Arts. However, after some time, he ventured into acting, and he made his first appearance on the big screen in the 1957 film, Fashion.
However, Manoj Kumar’s first leading role was in Kaanch Ki Gudiya, and it was released in 1961. Despite working in a couple of films, Manoj Kumar couldn’t taste the commercial success at the box office. Finally, in 1962, it was Vijay Bhatt’s film, Hariyali Aur Rasta, that became the first hit of his film career. Manoj Kumar was paired opposite the ever-so-stunning actress, Mala Sinha, and the duo’s chemistry in the film was absolutely spot on.
