Manoj Kumar returns to 70 mm

Thirty years ago, Manoj Kumar, aka “Mr Bharat” acted in a film titled Shirdi Ke Sai Baba, based on the life of the saint. The film went on to create box-office history. Manoj Kumar at that time took the risk of entrusting four songs to a fairly unknown singer Anup Jalota.

Today when Jalota is perhaps one of the most popular devotional singers and Manoj Kumar almost a whisper in collective memory, they will come together yet again, for a similar cause. This time, producer and devotee Deepak Balraaj Vij has managed to rope in the veteran actor to pen the lyrics for his second film on Sai Baba, to be sung by Jalota.

Jalota who is currently in USA for shows remarked, “These things happen only with Baba’s blessings. Deepakji came to my house one day, expressing a keen desire to work with Manoj Kumar. The very next day I went across to Manojji’s house. We were both overjoyed when Manojji accepted.”
The film titled Malik Ek has an impressive star cast with Divya Dutta, Rohini Hattangadi, Zarina Wahab and Jackie Shroff playing the role of Sai Baba. The song is to be recorded shortly, but Vij is now hoping Manoj Kumar will agree to play a cameo in the film as well.

Vij adds hopefully, “Manojji was last seen on the screen 17 years ago in KC Bokadia’s Maidan-e-Jung. I am sure his fans will be eager to see him on screen once more.”