Cannes 2026: Documentary Discovering Sambha On Sholay Actor Mac Mohan Announced

The

life of Sholay's Sambha, better known as actor Mac Mohan, is turning into a film. At the Cannes Film Festival, it was announced that the veteran actor's daughters will back Discovering Sambha. The Indo-Australian co-production will be directed by his daughter Manjari Makijany, while his other daughter Vinati Makijany will produce the documentary. The film will begin filming in 2026 and release the next year. Mac Mohan's five-decade career, which includes highlights of work in films such as Don, Satte Pe Satta, Trishul and of course, Sholay, will be explored. The late actor, who died on May 10, 2010, acted in more than 280 films.

Mac Mohan documentary announced at Cannes 2026

According to a report in Variety, the upcoming documentary will contain archival footage and bytes from family and friends while "exploring themes of identity, legacy and the relationship between cinema and personal memory." Mac Mohan's daughter Manjari will produce Discovering Sambha along with producer Emmanuel Pappas for Asia Pacific Pictures. Vinati Makijany will be producing the documentary from Mac Productions, which the late actor founded. Film Heritage Foundation founder and director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur joins the film as an advisor.

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Manjari, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker who has directed the films Spin and Skater Girl, shared that the documentary may be the most cathartic process of filmmaking. She was still discovering him through people who knew him before. She shared in a statement, "As a daughter, I’m piecing together memories, absences, and emotions with my sister that shaped our lives and influenced my own filmmaking journey." Actress Raveena Tandon, who is Mac Mohan’s niece, recalled memories of her uncle and said that his presence filled every room with laughter and stories. She felt the documentary would allow audiences to discover a side of the late actor that was personal, emotional, and beautifully human. Raveena added, "Though he played the quintessential baddie on screen, he was a golden-hearted señor and one of the warmest people you could know in real life.

More about Mac Mohan

Born Mohan Makijany in Karachi on April 24, 1938, the actor came to Mumbai (then Bombay) in hopes of being a cricketer. But theater soon beckoned and he took acting classes at the Filmalaya School of Acting. He began his Bollywood career as director Chetan Anand's assistant and made his acting debut in his 1964 film, Haqeeqat. Mac Mohan's final film appearance was in Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge (2010) as a guest appearance.