About a decade ago, I gathered some information about Sindhis in Film Industry which contained information of some 300 Sindhis, I wished to improve the information and enhanced the list, hence now this contains information of more than 700 Sindhis in film industry.
Also I tried to be precise in writing and avoided very detailed information such as list of movies etc.
Sindhis are in every field, but this is the small effort in gathering information and analyze the involvement of Sindhis in Film Industries.
Mohan D Bhavnani could be termed as first Sindhi in Film Industry, from the records available on internet , I couldn’t find any Sindhi person prior to M D Bhavnani,
M D Bhavnani started directing movies in 1925 and in that year he directed three movies- Movi “Matri Prem” ,”Seth Sagarshah”, “Veer Bala”. From is career he was major contributor of Directing movies. He was sole Sindhi film Director from 1925 to 1935.
Hari Shivdasani could be said as second pioneer and started directing movies in 1935 with movie “Dharma Ki Devi”
Mohan Bhavnani introduced Budo Advani in 1933 in his movie Afzal Ka Heer, in the same year Gope Kamlani was introduced in movie Insan Ya Shaitan. Hence in year 1933 Film Industry got two good actors and comedians.
In year 1934 Film Industry had four Sindhi Directors, J P Advani, Moti Jhangiani, M B Bhavnani and Moti Gidwani. J P Advani- Directed - “Afgan Abla”- 1934, Moti Jhangiani- Directed- “Dard E Dil-1934”, M Gidwani- Directed -”Manjari”- 1934
In the next year 1935 three more Sindhi Film Directors were added in film Industry, N G Bhulchandani Directed- “Ahe Mazluman”, Ram Daryani Directed- “Bal Hatya”-1935 , and T G lalwani- Directed- “Bhool Ka Bogh” 1935
So by the year 1935 film Industry had seven Sindhi Film Directors.
Thereafter following Sindhi Directors started the career in Film Industry.
D T Shivdasani- Director-”Modern Youth”-1937
Ram Kamlani- Director- “Muskrahat”-1943
Mohan Wadhwani- “Ghulami-Director”-1945
N Vasvani- Director- “Kuldeep”-1946
K P Shahani & K Advani- Director- “Duniyadari”-1948
G P Sippy- Director - “Adl- E- Jehangir”-1955
F U Ramsey - “Rustom Saurabh”- 1963
Arjun Hingorani- Director- “Kab Kyo Kahan”-1970
Ramesh Sippy- Director- “Sholay”- All time block buster-1975
Asrani- Director- “Chala Murari Hero Ban Ne”-1977
Anand Dasani-Director- “Ladki Javan Ho Gayi”-1977
Shyam Ramsey/ Tulsi Ramsey- Director- “Darwaza”-1978
Kailesh Advani- director- “Ikrar”-1979
Govind Nihalani- Director- “Aakrosh”-1980
Raj N Sippy- Director- “Josh”-1981
Shyam Jethani- Director- “Kanoon Aur Mujrim”-1981
Anil Hingorani- Director- “Katilo Ke Katil”-1981
Lokesh Lalwani- Director- “Kalka”-1983
Kumar Shahani- Director- “Tarang”-1984
Keshu Ramsey- Director- “Haveli”-1985
Sunil Hingorani- Director- “Karishma Kudrat Ka”-1985
Deepak S Shivdasani- Director- “Dadagiri”-1987
Dayal Nihalani- Director- “Andha Yudh”-1988
Anant Balani- Director- “Gawahi”-1989
Kiran Ramsey- director- “Shaitan Ilaaka”-1990
In this way contribution of Sindhi Producers and Directors increased in film industry.
Shiela Ramani could be said as first Sindhi heroin in Bollywood who started here career in 1952
Sadna Shivdasani started her career as Child actor in year 1955, hence could be termed as second Sindhi actress in Bollywood
Huge contribution of Sindhis in Horror Movies- Ramsey brothers had contributed in more than 30 horror movies and their first movie was “Do Gaj Zameen Ke Neeche” in 1972.
Bulo C Rani could be termed as first Sindhi Music Director in film industry, he has started his career in 1940.
Satram Rohera produced movie “Jai Santoshi Maa”, which could be termed as highest earning religious movie of that time, it was released in 1975 which was the year of release of “Sholay”.
Pahalaj Nihalani was first Sindhi to become Chairman of Censor Board of film industry
Ramesh Sippy created all time block buster movie “Sholay” in 1975, still today after years such type of movies are not produced in Bollywood.
Raaj Kiran could be termed as first Sindhi hero in Bollywood movies, but he was very unfortunate person in later life and still exact where about is not known.
Mac Mohan could be termed as first Sindhi to play the Villain character in film industry, he had started his career in 1961, there after Dilip Tahil started his career in year 1974 and is also well known actor for Villain roles.
I had tried to gather information of 702 Sindhis in film industry, out of which 103 are from foreign film industry.While gathering information from internet, Sindhis were identified by their surname or detail information , but some Non Sindhis have similar surnames , hence there are chances of mistake of identification of some Non Sindhis as Sindhi, such error if any may please be ignored. List also includes persons whose one of the parent is Sindhi.