"Manoj Kumar hit Dharmendra on the shoulder": KC Bokadia recounts a BTS incident from ‘Maidan-E-Jung’ sets

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 4 (ANI): Filmmaker KC Bokadia shared a hilarious anecdote from the sets of his directorial 'Maidaan-E-Jung ', which boasted an ensemble cast including Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Jaya Prada and Karisma Kapoor. 
Speaking to ANI, producer-director Bokadia recalled an incident from the shooting of a song for Maidaan-E-Jung, during which actor Manoj Kumar accidentally bumped his shoulder into Dharmendra, an act that did not go down well with the latter.
"I directed Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra and Akshay Kumar in Maidaan-e-Jang. Dharam Ji and I were close friends. There were some problems between Dharam and Manoj Jii. When I told him about the movie, Dharam Ji was firstly like 'Boss why', I said, it's okay sir. So during a shoot, Manoj jii accidentally hit Dharmendra with his shoulder," said KC Bokadia. 
"Immediately after, Dharam ji gave me a look at me and I said leave him," added Bokadia. 
Maidan-E-Jung was released in 1995 and was directed by KC Bokadia. Apart from the lead cast, the film featured Mukesh Khanna, Amrish Puri and Gulshan Grover in the supporting roles. 
The duo of this funny anecdote by Bakodia are unfortunately not among us. Dharmendra, famously known as Bollywood's 'He-Man,' passed away on November 24, 2025. His passing marked the end of an era in Hindi cinema.
Over the decades, he earned widespread admiration for his versatility across genres and emerged as one of the industry's most loved and enduring stars. One of the most iconic actors of his time, Dharmendra, left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema with memorable performances in films such as 'Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke', 'Sholay', 'Chupke Chupke', 'Ayee Milan Ki Bela' and 'Anupama', among many others.
Legendary actor and filmmaker Manoj Kumar, popularly known as "Bharat Kumar" for his patriotic roles, passed away on April 4, 2025, at the age of 87 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.
Born Harikrishan Goswami in Abbottabad in 1937, Kumar rose to fame with films such as 'Upkar', 'Shaheed', and 'Purab Aur Paschim', which celebrated patriotism and national unity.
An accomplished actor, director, and lyricist, he won the Padma Shri, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and several Filmfare accolades. His contributions continue to inspire generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. (ANI)