Culprits can't face me: Manoj Kumar

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Manoj Kumar (TOI Photo)

"Humour is fine but not at the cost of your respect and integrity. I have been there in this industry for 50 years. Is this the way to portray me?," says Manoj Kumar.

You are hurt with Om Shanti Om...
A few days back, I got a call from my niece who studies in London. It took me some time to take her call. When she asked me why I was so delayed, I said I was asleep. I still remember her remark: " Mamu, aap abhi soh rahein hain jab OSO mein aapko itna zalil kiya jaa raha hai?" I hadn't watched the film then. Four days back, I watched the film in a theatre. Nobody know that I was sitting in the dark. And when that humiliating scene was being screened, I could hear people say: 'Kitna ganda hai' .

Do you think a certain brand of humour didn't work for you?
Humour is fine but not at the cost of your respect and integrity. I have been there in this industry for 50 years. Is this the way to portray me? Do you want me to believe that Manoj Kumar going to the premiere in the 70s would not be recognised by the Mumbai Police? In another scene, Shah Rukh is shown giving a mock thank you speech in a drunken state, where he says he is Manoj Kumar.

Has anyone from the OSO's cast or crew called you up after you expressed your disgust?
Culprits have no guts to face me. I see the whole episode not just as a direct attack on Manoj Kumar. This is an attack on nationalism and patriotism. Only traitors can ridicule the spirit of nationalism. It's for the nation to punish them. What appalls me further is that the premiere of OSO has been attended by film people. Yet, no one has raised a voice of protest.

Do you think the Censor Board should have been more cautious?
Their code of conduct is not clear. They mostly decide arbitrarily