Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 2, 2026

Mohan Sinha

Mohan Sinha was an Indian film director and producer. His notable films include Anuradha (1940), Omar Khaiyyam and 1857. His son-in-law was the writer Pratap A. Rana, and grand-daughter, Vidya Sinha, was a notable actress during the 1970s.

Last revised
Jul 2, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
Mohan Sinha
Occupation
  • Film director
OrganizationMurari Pictures
WorksSee below
RelativesPratap A. Rana (son-in-law)
Vidya Sinha (grand-daughter)

Mohan Sinha was an Indian film director and producer. His notable films include Anuradha (1940), Omar Khaiyyam and 1857 (both 1946). His son-in-law was the writer Pratap A. Rana, and grand-daughter, Vidya Sinha, was a notable actress during the 1970s.1

Career

Sinha was the owner of the production house Murari Pictures.2 He directed 32 films in his career, launching the careers of actors Madan Puri and Jeevan.1 One of his earliest works include Anuradha (1940), which he also wrote.3 In 1946, he directed and produced the period dramas Omar Khaiyyam and 1857; both films were among the highest-grossing productions of the year.4 The former marked one of the final screen appearances of K. L. Saigal.5

Contrary to the rumors that Devika Rani gave Madhubala her screen name, it was Sinha who introduced Mumtaz—then a child actress—as "Madhubala" in November 1946.67 Sinha went on to direct five films featuring Madhubala as lead actress: Chittor Vijay, Dil Ki Rani, Mere Bhagwan, Khubsurat Duniya (all four in 1947) and Imtihaan (1949).8

Selected filmography

References

References

  1. "I still regret saying no to Raj Kapoor for Satyam Shivam Sundaram". Rediff. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  2. Doraiswamy, V. (3 May 1952). Asian Film Directory And Who's Who (1952). p. 233.
  3. Patel, Baburao (1940). FilmIndia (1940). New York The Museum of Modern Art Library. Bombay. p. 569.
  4. "Top Earners 1946". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  5. Nevile, Pran (2004). K L Saigal: Immortal Singer and Superstar. Nevile Books. pp. 146, 180. ISBN 978-81-901166-1-9.
  6. Patel, Baburao (1946). FilmIndia (1946). New York The Museum of Modern Art Library. Bombay. p. 79.
  7. Dhar, Parthiv; Bhattacharjee, Anirudha (27 October 2022). Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography, Winner of the National Award for Best Book on Cinema, 2022. Harper Collins. p. 219. ISBN 978-93-5629-172-0.
    "Although it is popularly believed that Devika Rani had a hand in rechristening Mumtaz as Madhubala, it was Mohan Sinha, her director for Chittor Vijay (1947), Dil Ki Rani (1947) and a few other films, to whom posterity should be indebted. Incidentally, Mohan Sinha was the maternal grandfather of Vidya Sinha, a successful actress of the mid-1970s."
  8. Akbar, Katijia (1 April 2011). I Want to Live: The Story of Madhubala. Hay House, Inc. p. 198. ISBN 978-93-81398-21-0.
External links