The man behind the iconic “Sambha”: Mac Mohan’s legacy lives on through his daughters

Mac Mohan came to Bombay with the dream of becoming a cricketer. However, destiny had other plans.

Hyderabad: Mac Mohan, best remembered for his famous one-liner role “Sambha” in Sholay, may have appeared on screen for just a few minutes, but he left a lasting impression. Though the spotlight in films usually stays on the hero, heroine, or villain, some character artists manage to steal the show — and Mac Mohan was one of them.

Born as Mohan Makijani in Karachi before independence, Mac Mohan came to Bombay with the dream of becoming a cricketer. However, destiny had other plans. He joined theatre and then entered Bollywood, where he acted in nearly 200 films.

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He began his film journey in the 1960s as an assistant director and soon found his calling in front of the camera. His most iconic role was as Sambha in Sholay, but he also acted in popular films like Don, Karz, Satte Pe Satta, Zanjeer, Rafoo Chakkar, Shaan, and Khoon Pasina. His final film appearance was a cameo in Ajay Devgn’s Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge. He passed away in 2010 due to lung cancer.

Mac Mohan married Mini in 1986 and had three children — two daughters, Manjari and Vinati, and a son, Vikrant. Today, both daughters are keeping his legacy alive through their work in the film industry.

Manjari is a writer, director, and producer. She has made her mark with international and Indian films, including Skater Girl and Spin. Her short films like The Last Marble, The Corner Table, and I See You have also been praised. She worked as an assistant director on Wake Up Sid and Saat Khoon Maaf, and was even nominated for an Emmy Award for Spin.

Vinati, on the other hand, is a producer and actress. She has worked in My Name Is Khan, Skater Girl, and The Corner Table. She runs a production house named after her father — Mac Productions — and has a growing following on Instagram with over 31,000 followers.

Mac Mohan may no longer be with us, but his daughters are proudly carrying forward his name, both in India and on international screens.