Veteran filmmaker KC Bokadia recently pulled back the curtain on a tense yet hilarious behind-the-scenes moment from the set of his 1995 directorial venture, Maidaan-E-Jung. The film boasted a massive ensemble cast featuring Bollywood legends Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, and Akshay Kumar, alongside Jaya Prada and Karisma Kapoor. According to Bokadia, the atmosphere between the two veteran stars was already a bit frosty before cameras even started rolling, as Dharmendra had initially questioned the filmmaker about working with Manoj Kumar.
Recounting the incident, Bokadia revealed that while filming a song sequence, Manoj Kumar accidentally bumped his shoulder into Dharmendra. Given their existing friction, the ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood was clearly not pleased with the physical contact. Bokadia shared that Dharmendra immediately shot him a stern look, but the director quickly intervened to defuse the situation, telling him to simply let it go. The film, which also featured powerhouse performers like Amrish Puri, Mukesh Khanna, and Gulshan Grover, remains a notable project for bringing these iconic stars together on one screen.
The industry recently mourned the loss of these two cinematic giants, both of whom passed away in 2025. Manoj Kumar, the legendary actor and filmmaker famously known as ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his iconic patriotic roles in films like Upkar and Purab Aur Paschim, passed away on April 4, 2025, at the age of 87. Shortly after, the Hindi film fraternity lost Dharmendra on November 24, 2025. His passing marked the end of a golden era, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable performances in classics like Sholay, Chupke Chupke, and Anupama. These legends left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, and anecdotes like these offer a rare glimpse into the off-screen dynamics of Bollywood’s most celebrated icons.