About

Known credits:
48
Birthday:
1897-11-02
Place of birth:
N/A
Website:
N/A

Sohrab Modi

Overview

Sohrab Modi (1897–1984) was one of the towering figures of early Indian cinema—a director, producer, and actor whose work brought historical grandeur and social reform to the silver screen. Known for his booming voice and Shakespearean gravitas, he began his career in theatre and was deeply influenced by Parsi stage traditions. He founded Minerva Movietone in the 1930s, a studio that became synonymous with epic historical dramas and socially relevant films.

Modi’s hallmark was his dedication to moral seriousness and elaborate period detail. His most celebrated works include Pukar (1939), Sikandar (1941), and Prithvi Vallabh (1943), films that combined visual splendor with stirring oratory and nationalist undercurrents. He was also a pioneer of courtroom and social dramas—Jhansi Ki Rani (1953), one of India’s first Technicolor films, and Ek Din Ka Sultan (1945) reflected his enduring interest in justice, reform, and strong historical women.

Though later overshadowed by more contemporary styles of filmmaking, Sohrab Modi’s legacy remains vital. He helped define the moral and aesthetic vocabulary of early Indian cinema, and his work continues to be remembered for its theatrical eloquence, patriotism, and cultural pride.

Known for

Acting
1971 Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari Actor Raisaheb Surajbhan Chaudhary 58
Average
1958 Yahudi Actor Ezra 58
Average
1958 Jailor Actor 58
Average
1957 Nausherwan-E-Adil Actor Sultan-e-Iran Nausherwan bin Kavad 58
Average
1956 Raj Hath Actor 58
Average
1955 Kundan Actor Kundan 58
Average
1953 Jhansi Ki Rani Actor Raj Guru 58
Average
1943 Prithvi Vallabh Actor Prithvi Vallabh N/A
N/A
1941 Sikandar Actor King Porus N/A
N/A
1939 Pukar Actor Sardar Sangram Singh 58
Average
1938 Meetha Zaher Actor N/A
N/A
1938 Jailor Actor N/A
N/A
1937 Khan Bahadur Actor N/A
N/A
1937 Atma Tarang Actor N/A
N/A
1936 Said-e-Havas Actor N/A
N/A
1935 Khoon Ka Khoon Actor Hamlet N/A
N/A

Directing
1958 Jailor Directing Director 58
Average
1957 Nausherwan-E-Adil Directing Director 58
Average
1956 Raj Hath Directing Director 58
Average
1955 Kundan Directing Director 58
Average
1954 Mirza Ghalib Directing Director 58
Average
1953 Jhansi Ki Rani Directing Director 58
Average
1950 Sheesh Mahal Directing Director N/A
N/A
1945 Ek Din Ka Sultan Directing Director N/A
N/A
1944 Parakh Directing Director N/A
N/A
1943 Prithvi Vallabh Directing Director N/A
N/A
1942 Phir Milenge Directing Director N/A
N/A
1941 Sikandar Directing Director N/A
N/A
1940 Bharosa Directing Director N/A
N/A
1939 Pukar Directing Director 58
Average
1938 Talaq Directing Director N/A
N/A
1938 Meetha Zaher Directing Director N/A
N/A
1938 Jailor Directing Director N/A
N/A
1937 Khan Bahadur Directing Director N/A
N/A
1937 Atma Tarang Directing Director N/A
N/A
1936 Said-e-Havas Directing Director N/A
N/A
1935 Khoon Ka Khoon Directing Director N/A
N/A

Production
1956 Raj Hath Production Producer 58
Average
1955 Kundan Production Producer 58
Average
1954 Mirza Ghalib Production Producer 58
Average
1954 Waris Production Producer N/A
N/A
1953 Jhansi Ki Rani Production Producer 58
Average
1946 Shama Production Producer N/A
N/A
1945 Ek Din Ka Sultan Production Producer N/A
N/A
1944 Parakh Production Producer N/A
N/A
1941 Sikandar Production Producer N/A
N/A
1940 Bharosa Production Producer N/A
N/A
1937 Khan Bahadur Production Producer N/A
N/A