Why Mac Mohan Believed the Label Bollywood Limits the Identity of Indian Cinema

Mac Mohan, remembered fondly for his role as Sambha in Sholay, held strong opinions about how Indian cinema is described globally. In an interview that has resurfaced, the veteran actor expressed that he was never comfortable with the widely used term Bollywood. According to him, the label oversimplifies the rich and diverse world of Indian filmmaking.

Mac Mohan stated that the word Bollywood is derived from Hollywood and was originally used to describe Hindi films produced in Bombay. However, he felt this name failed to represent the true identity of Indian cinema. He believed that the borrowed label made the industry appear as an imitation rather than an independent creative powerhouse with its own history and cultural identity.

The actor pointed out that India produces films in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and Punjabi. Each industry has its own distinct style, storytelling tradition and artistic expression. Mac Mohan argued that using Bollywood as a singular label ignores this diversity and limits how the world perceives Indian cinema.

He shared that calling the entire film landscape Bollywood creates an impression that only one segment of the industry represents the nation. This, he believed, affected regional cinema by overshadowing their contributions. He suggested that it is more appropriate to call the collective film world Indian cinema, which recognises every industry equally.

Mac Mohan also mentioned that artists who worked across different films found it difficult when international audiences viewed all Indian content solely through the Bollywood lens. He felt that this branding constrained the recognition of Indian films abroad and undermined the individuality of other regional industries.

In recent years, several directors and actors have echoed similar thoughts, highlighting the importance of recognising India’s multilingual film culture. The renewed interest in Mac Mohan’s interview has sparked discussions once again about the identity and global perception of Indian films.

His views have resonated with many film lovers who believe that Indian cinema cannot be defined by one borrowed word. Mac Mohan’s legacy, both as an actor and as a thoughtful observer of the industry, continues to be appreciated as audiences revisit his work and his insights.