# Mohan Segal
**Mohan Segal** (also spelled Mohan Sehgal or Mohan Saigal; 1 December 1921 – 19 October 2005) was an Indian film director and producer who worked primarily in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), best known for the [Kishore Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kishore-kumar) satire *New Delhi* (1956) and for *Sawan Bhadon* (1970), the film that introduced Rekha and [Navin Nischol](https://www.edgepedia.org/navin-nischol) to Hindi screens.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1 December 1921, Jalandhar; 19 October 2005, Bombay (aged 83)[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0781830/) |
| Entry into films | Assistant director to Chetan Anand on *Neecha Nagar* (1946); small acting roles in *Neecha Nagar* and *Afsar* (1950)[2](https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/mohan-segal) |
| Directorial debut | 1954, with *Aulad* and *Adhikar*[2](https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/mohan-segal) |
| Signature film | *New Delhi* (1956), a satire on provincialism starring Kishore Kumar and Vyjayanthimala, with music by Shankar-Jaikishan[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049549/) |
| Own banner | De Lux Films, under which he made *Devar* (1966), *Kanyadaan* (1968), *Saajan* (1969), and *Sawan Bhadon* (1970)[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal) • [5](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/objects/sawan-bhadon-1970-cinema-poster-3999) |
| Talent-spotting | Cast newcomer Dharmendra in *Anpadh* (1962), brought Rekha to Hindi cinema, and rejected Amitabh Bachchan in a screen test[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal) |
| Last film | *Kasam Suhag Ki* (1989)[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal) |
## Early life and theater
Segal was born into a Punjabi family in [Jalandhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/jalandhar) and trained as a [Bharatanatyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatanatyam) dancer and musician. After studying literature at Government College, Jalandhar, he moved to Bombay and worked at [Prithvi Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/prithvi-theatre) as an actor and choreographer, and was active in IPTA (the Indian People's Theatre Association) during this period. Among the plays he wrote or directed were *Desh Bhakt* and *Jadu ki Kursi*, the latter featuring Balraj Sahni.[2](https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/mohan-segal)
His film career began as an assistant director to Chetan Anand on *[Neecha Nagar](https://www.edgepedia.org/neecha-nagar)* (1946), a film in which he also played a small part; he took another small role in *Afsar* (1950). He turned to directing in 1954 with two releases, *Aulad* and *Adhikar*.[2](https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/mohan-segal)
## The Kishore Kumar comedies
Through the 1950s Segal directed a run of comedies starring Kishore Kumar that brought him considerable acclaim: *New Delhi* (1956), *Apna Haath Jagannath* (1960), and *Krorepati* (1961). Cinemaazi identifies *Apna Haath Jagannath* as his breakthrough film.[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal)
*New Delhi* was his most-touted film of the period. He directed and produced it for De Lux Films, co-wrote its story and screenplay with Inder Raj Anand and Radhakrishan, and cast Kishore Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, and Jabeen Jalil. The plot follows an orthodox Punjabi gentleman whose son poses as a Tamil to obtain accommodation in New Delhi, and the film carries topical references to contemporary politics; the *Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema* later described it as Segal's landmark satire.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049549/) • [6](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/new-delhi-1956) • [7](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781135943189_A23811970/preview-9781135943189_A23811970.pdf) In 1960 he followed it with *Apna Haath Jagannath*, using Kishore Kumar again to address middle-class attitudes to manual labor.[8](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf)
## Middle career and Sawan Bhadon
Segal produced *Lajwanti* (1958), starring [Balraj Sahni](https://www.edgepedia.org/balraj-sahni) and Nargis, and served as executive producer on *Anpadh* (1962), the Mohan Kumar film in which the rank newcomer [Dharmendra](https://www.edgepedia.org/dharmendra) was cast.[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal) • [9](https://www.moviebuff.com/mohan-segal) Under his De Lux Films banner he then directed a series of successful films: *Devar* (1966), *Kanyadaan* (1968), *Saajan* (1969), and *Sawan Bhadon* (1970).[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal)
**Sawan Bhadon** became his best-known casting achievement. He produced and directed the film under De Lux Films, signing Rekha, newly arrived from South Indian cinema, for her Hindi debut opposite Navin Nischol, himself a debutant; the film went on floors on 11 October 1969 and was released on 2 September 1970.[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mohan-Segal) • [11](https://hindi.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/navin-nischol-was-not-willing-to-work-with-rekha-in-sawan-bhadon-article-2424844.html) • [5](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/objects/sawan-bhadon-1970-cinema-poster-3999) Rekha, who did not know Hindi at the time, later thanked Segal publicly for believing in her and signing her for the film.[12](https://www.filmfare.com/features/flashback-filmfare-words-from-the-heart-5174.html) Segal is also remembered for having rejected [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan) in a screen test.[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal)
## Later career
*Raja Jani* (1972), starring Dharmendra and [Hema Malini](https://www.edgepedia.org/hema-malini), was a commercial success. It was followed by a lean spell in which *Ek Hi Raasta* (1977), *Kartavya* (1979), *Samrat* (1982), *Daulat* (1982), and *Hum Hain Lajawaab* (1984) did not perform well. His last film was *Kasam Suhag Ki* (1989).[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal)
## Personal life
Segal was married to Asha Mathur, an actress of the 1950s, and had two children: Uma Segal, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and Deepak Segal, an editor. He died on 19 October 2005 in Bombay.[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0781830/)
## Notes on the record
Sources disagree on his exact birth date: Cinemaazi, IMDb, and [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) give 1 December 1921, while the Times of India lists November 30, 1921.[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0781830/) • [13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mohan-Segal/movies) Filmographies also vary in size and detail: IMDb credits him with 18 films as director and 16 as producer,[1](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0781830/) while Cinemaazi lists 21 films[4](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal) and the Quebec film classification repertoire records 11 of his films, some under later certification dates such as 1978 for *Sawan Bhadon*.[14](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/director/mohan-segal/)
## References
1. [Mohan Segal, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm0781830/)
2. [Mohan Segal – Director | Biography, Films, Legacy, Cinemaazi](https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/mohan-segal)
3. [New Delhi (1956), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049549/)
4. [Mohan Segal – Director | Biography, Films, Legacy, Cinemaazi (full biography)](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/people/mohan-segal)
5. [Segal, Mohan (Producer), Sawan Bhadon, 1970 | Full Sheet Poster, Tuli Research Centre](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/objects/sawan-bhadon-1970-cinema-poster-3999)
6. [New Delhi (1956) – Movie Details, Cinemaazi](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/new-delhi-1956)
7. [Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema preview (Inder Raj Anand entry)](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781135943189_A23811970/preview-9781135943189_A23811970.pdf)
8. [Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema text, indiancine.ma](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf)
9. [Mohan Segal on Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/mohan-segal)
10. [Mohan Segal, Times of India topic page](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mohan-Segal)
11. [Sawan Bhadon: Navin Nischol and Rekha, Moneycontrol Hindi](https://hindi.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/navin-nischol-was-not-willing-to-work-with-rekha-in-sawan-bhadon-article-2424844.html)
12. [Flashback Filmfare: Words from the heart, Filmfare](https://www.filmfare.com/features/flashback-filmfare-words-from-the-heart-5174.html)
13. [Mohan Segal Movies, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mohan-Segal/movies)
14. [Mohan Segal, Répertoire des films classés (Québec)](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/director/mohan-segal/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of South Asia*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license