Veteran actor Manoj Kumar’s brother, Manish Goswami, recently shared how the late filmmaker Yash Chopra helped resolve a serious disagreement between Shah Rukh Khan and Manoj Kumar. The issue started back in 2007, after the release of the film Om Shanti Om, directed by Farah Khan and starring Shah Rukh.
The movie featured a scene that was meant to be funny, where Shah Rukh’s character mimicked Manoj Kumar’s signature hand-on-face pose to sneak into a film premiere. While the filmmakers saw it as a tribute, Manoj Kumar was hurt by the scene and felt it made fun of him. He believed it damaged his reputation and was upset after watching it.
After Manoj Kumar’s death on April 4, 2025, his brother Manish gave an interview on YouTube with Vickey Lalwani. In the conversation, Manish shared how things were finally sorted out peacefully, and much of the credit went to Yash Chopra.
Manish said that even though Manoj Kumar was very disturbed by the scene, he didn’t want to make a big issue out of it. He didn’t want any money or compensation. Instead, he only asked for a symbolic defamation amount of one rupee, just to make a point.
Manish explained that once everyone calmed down, Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan visited Manoj Kumar to apologize. Yash Chopra was there during this meeting and played a big role in bringing everyone together. His calm and respectful approach helped ease the tension and settle things.
When asked whether Shah Rukh and Farah did apologize directly, Manish confirmed they did. He said it was a good gesture and appreciated by Manoj Kumar. “It was very nice for all of them to come and apologise. Things have been sorted out,” he said.
Manish also mentioned that Manoj Kumar was very clear about his feelings. He didn’t want to create drama but stood by his beliefs. Many people agreed with his view and felt he was right to speak up.
Despite the past disagreement, Shah Rukh Khan paid a heartfelt tribute to Manoj Kumar after his passing. He shared a message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), praising the late actor’s work and calling him a legend. Shah Rukh wrote, “Manoj Kumar ji made films that uplifted our country, our cinema, and focused on unity with unmatched sincerity. A legend in every sense.”
This story is a reminder that even when misunderstandings happen in the film industry, they can be resolved with respect, honest conversations, and a little help from peacemakers like Yash Chopra.
