Actress Somy Ali, who runs a US-based NGO called No More Tears, took to Instagram to share the tragic news of actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar passing away. Posting a picture of the actor-filmmaker, she wrote her heart out about what he meant to her.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had spent time at Manoj uncle’s bungalow and he reminisced about his upbringing in Lahore as I told him about my father being born in Bombay and my grandparents from my dad’s side were Hindu. Manoj uncle was one of my favorite filmmakers right there with Raj Kapoor as he focused so brilliantly and beautifully on each shot. I will always love, respect and miss him,” she wrote.

Manoj Kumar passed away at the age of 87 in Mumbai. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital due to heart-related complications. He was celebrated for his contributions to Indian cinema and was part of films such as Shaheed, Upkar, and Purab Aur Paschim and even won a Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.