Veteran actor Monty Kumar has been quite vocal about his love and admiration for Manoj Kumar. He has also often called him his mentor, as he worked under the actor and filmmaker as his assistant for around 8 years. Looking back on their time together, Nath opened up about his bond with Manoj Kumar, sharing more details about how the two met for the first time.
Monty Nath shares how he met Manoj Kumar for the first time
While talking to Vickey Lalwani on his talk show, the veteran icon opened up about how it was like to meet Manoj Kumar for the first time. When the journalist asked him about his first meeting with the ‘Purab Aur Paschim’ actor, Nath shared that the two had met for the first time on set when Kumar and his father, legendary star Prem Nath were working together on a project.He shared that there was an incident with the two of them on set, further adding details and sharing, “The day of the shoot, he asks the assistant, ‘I’ve not received the dialouges’, and he said, ‘Manoj ji aaye nahin’, Manoj ji was writing the dialogues. ‘Woh aayenge, abhi dialogue likhenge, Then we will give it to you’”.
Monty Nath shared that his father and Manoj Kumar developed an understanding
However, this was not the way his father worked. Monty Nath explained that his father was from a theatre background, and was used to preparing for his lines and “doin his homework” a day in advance. However, when he fond out that the dialogues were still being written, he called Manoj Kumar to his dressing room at the time. He added, “So, he said, ‘Please call Manoj-ji.’ Manoj-ji came into the makeup room. My dad explained, ‘This is my issue. I believe you write the dialogues on the set, and I am used to getting my lines. So, I would like to prepare myself before what I’m getting into, what shot I am getting into, before taking this shot.’”Manoj Kumar then told his father that the two of them would have to compromise and meet in the middle, while working on their own styles. Kumar then told his father, “‘Let me do it my way. I’ll deliver the dialogues on set. You take your time to prepare however you wish, and then we’ll do it.” So it started on this note, but what tuning they developed between both of them…”Monty Nath and Manoj Kumar were quite close, and worked together for years together. Monty started out as an assistant to Kymar, and even contributed behind the scenes to one of his most famous films, ‘Kranti.’
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