Manoj Kumar cancels 75th b'day bash

wish Dilip Kumar and Saira Bano reads it ... who celebrated Dilip Kumar's big fat birthday on the same day of Dev Anand's funeral

Veteran actor Manoj Kumar has cancelled his birthday celebrations today as a mark of respect to his late colleagues and friends ' Dara Singh and Rajesh Khanna.

The actor, who turns 75 today, has never celebrated his birthday in all these years but agreed to do so this year on his family's insistence. Thus, a party was organised at a five-star hotel in the suburbs. Talking to TOI, Kumar said, "My children wanted me to celebrate my birthday in a big way this time, but I've called off the party as a tribute to my friends Dara Singh and Rajesh Khanna. I had decided to cancel it when I'd heard of Dara passing away, but his son Vindoo told me to go ahead with the celebration. But soon came the blow of Rajesh's demise. I'm in no mood for celebration in this traumatic and gloomy ambience." He adds, "I'd met Dara Singh eight months ago at his home. We'd caught up like old friends. I met Rajesh Khanna three months ago at an awards function. There was much gossip about his health then, but he'd said he was fine. They will both be deeply missed."

Khanna and Kumar were also to do two films together but the projects fell through.