There are many stories about how Manoj Kumar came into films. One of them that I find fascinating is that Manoj Kumar literally strolled inside a film studio one day and asked a noble man for work. The production engaged him in mundane labour like carrying lights and luggage and was slowly promoted as assistant on the sets. He was made to stand as stepney to check lighting for the hero and probably that is how somebody thought of him as a leading man. He was only 20 years old when he was introduced in Fashion, his debut film.
In the coming four years, Manoj Kumar did eight films (Panchayat, Sahara, Chand, Honeymoon, Suhaag Sindoor, Kaanch ki Gudiya and Reshmi Rumal), mostly heroine-oriented films and unsuccessful, until Vijay Bhatt re-introduced him in Hariyali Aur Raasta and was an established star by the sixties featuring in close to 27 films, some romantic, Dr Vidya with Vyajantimala, Do Badan with Asha Parekh, Sawan Ki Ghata with SharmilaTagore and, Pathar Ke Sanam and Aadmi with Waheeda Rehman.
To be continued