Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 4 (ANI): Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon remembered late actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, who passed away at the age of 87, as she recalled his immense contribution to Indian cinema and also shared her personal connection with him.

While speaking to ANI, Raveena shared how much she admired Kumar and called him a 'genius' who 'was ahead of his time.'

Mentioning how he played a key role in her father's life, the actress said, 'We can never forget him. He was so close to me. He gave the first break to my father in Balidaan. My father was so close to him. He (Manoj Kumar) was ahead of his time. When he gave the song 'Jab zero diya mere Bharat ne', there was no concept of a revolving restaurant in India, so he created something like that. He was always a genius. I think the patriotism that I have in me, I would say, it has come from him, his films, and my father....'

The actor breathed his last at 4:03 a.m. on April 4 at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, after battling a long illness.

Born Harikrishan Goswami on July 24, 1937, in Abbottabad (now in Pakistan), Kumar became an iconic figure in Indian cinema, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. The actor was affectionately known as 'Bharat Kumar' for his iconic roles in patriotic films like Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, and Shaheed.

Apart from acting, Kumar also made significant contributions as a director and producer. His directorial debut Upkar (1967) won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film.

Other successful films directed by him include Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), both of which were major successes, both critically and commercially. (ANI)