Emmy-nominated filmmaker Manjari Makijany (“Spin,” “Skater Girl”) will direct “Discovering Sambha,” a feature documentary on her father, Indian character actor Mac Mohan, with sister Vinati Makijany producing. The project is structured as an official India-Australia co-production, with production set to begin later this year and a release targeted for 2027.
The project was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival.
Mac Mohan built a career spanning more than 50 years and over 280 films, among them “Don,” “Shaan,” “Karz,” “Zanjeer,” “Satte Pe Satta,” “Trishul,” “Khoon Pasina,” “Rafoo Chakkar” and “Khuddar.” He earned lasting cultural recognition as Sambha, the laconic henchman in Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 blockbuster “Sholay,” a role that has kept his name a household word across generations.
“Discovering Sambha” will draw on archival material, family recollections and reflections from colleagues, exploring themes of identity, legacy and the relationship between cinema and personal memory. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder and director of the Film Heritage Foundation, which restored “Sholay” recently, has joined as an advisor.
“Mac Mohan has a fan following of his own as much as the heroes of his day. No matter how big or small the role, he left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the people who continue to watch these films even today and remember him and the roles he played with great fondness,” Dungarpur said.
