Manoj Kumar reacts to Farah Khan’s snide remark that his 1989 film, Clerk, is a ‘treasure chest of ham scenes’
By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 26, 2009)

Manoj Kumar

Farah Khan has rubbed veteran actor Manoj Kumar the wrong way again. After a raging controversy, which triggered off when she showcased Manoj Kumar in a poor light in Om Shanti Om, a few weeks ago, Farah made a statement in the media that she rated Manoj Kumar’s film, Clerk as “a treasure chest of ham scenes”.

Reacting angrily to Farah’s statement, Manoj Kumar said, “Ham means pig. I am still a student of cinema. Farah is bubbly and successful and she is entitled to her opinion. I wish her well but those who think that they have become masters (after becoming successful) are wrong. Go back and take a look at the choreographers who ruled the roost in my era. I think Farah should first learn to spell choreography. Keeping the same background and repeating the same shots is not choreography. It means that a song should take the story forward. If you don’t know that, you have no right to choreograph a song.”

Manoj says that he vividly remembers many scenes from the film, which released 20 years ago. “Nowadays, writers copy old films and nonchalantly walk away with awards. I have no respect for anybody who is not original, irrespective of the fate of his/her product at the box-office,”

Farah Khan

When asked what he thinks of Farah as a filmmaker, he replied, “What films has Farah made? Main Hoon Na? Good. But Om Shanti Om was just idli, sambar and dosa of Madhumati, Mahal and many other films.”

When we asked Farah Khan about the issue, she refused to comment on it. All she says is, “I have high regard for Manoj Kumar.”