Veteran actor Mac Mohan, known widely for his role as Sambha in Sholay, once expressed strong views about the term Bollywood and its use to describe Indian cinema. In an old interview that has resurfaced, the actor shared that he was never fully comfortable with how the industry was labelled in comparison to Hollywood.
Mac Mohan explained that the word Bollywood originated by combining Bombay and Hollywood, but he believed this name did not do justice to the identity of Indian cinema. He felt the term made the industry seem like an imitation of Hollywood rather than a unique creative world with its own history, languages and cultural depth.
He pointed out that India produces films in many languages, each with its own storytelling style and artistic individuality. Calling everything Bollywood, according to him, oversimplified and overshadowed the rich diversity of Indian filmmaking. Mac Mohan suggested that the industry should simply be referred to as Indian cinema instead of adopting a label inspired from the West.
He shared that his discomfort with the term increased over the years as he saw the global media repeatedly using Bollywood as the only identity for Indian films. He said that such naming made it difficult for regional cinema to get equal recognition, even though those industries also contribute significantly to the cultural and creative fabric of the country.
Mac Mohan’s perspective has gained renewed attention in recent years, as many actors and filmmakers have echoed similar concerns. Several members of the film fraternity believe that the word Bollywood restricts the perception of Indian films on the global stage and fails to highlight the diversity of the national film landscape.
The renewed discussion around his interview has sparked conversations among film lovers, who are reflecting on how the term has shaped the global understanding of Indian cinema. Mac Mohan’s viewpoint serves as an important reminder of the need to acknowledge the individuality of India’s various film industries rather than clubbing everything under one borrowed name.