Jackie Shroff marks 11 years of short film Makhmal with nostalgic post
Synopsis
Eleven years on, Jackie Shroff's short film Makhmal — a two-day shoot about a zardosi artisan's longing for his daughter — still carries the San Francisco International Film Festival's Best Short Film trophy. Shroff's anniversary post is a reminder that some of Hindi cinema's most resonant work happens far outside the multiplex.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Shroff marked 11 years of short film Makhmal on 5 October 2025 by sharing its poster on social media.
The film, written and directed by Faraz Ali , centres on a zardosi artisan in Mumbai and his emotional bond with his young daughter.
Makhmal was reportedly shot in just two days and won the Best Short Film award at the San Francisco International Film Festival .
Child artiste Palak Dey stars opposite Shroff; the cast also includes Deepti Sharma and Bhuvan Arora .
Shroff made his Bollywood debut in 1982 with Swami Dada and is known for films such as Hero , Parinda , and Ram Lakhan .
Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff on 5 October 2025 commemorated 11 years of his acclaimed short film Makhmal, sharing the film's poster on his social media account alongside the hashtag #11YearsOfMakhmal. The milestone renews attention on a project that remains one of the more quietly celebrated entries in his long career.
What Makhmal Is About
Written and directed by Faraz Ali, Makhmal follows Jamal, a zardosi artisan in Mumbai who is separated from his wife and yearns to spend time with his young daughter. A piece of velvet — the word 'makhmal' itself means velvet in Urdu — serves as the emotional and symbolic thread binding the father-daughter relationship at the heart of the story.
The poster shared by Shroff captures a tender moment between his character and child artiste Palak Dey, who plays his daughter. The cast also includes Deepti Sharma and Bhuvan Arora.
The People Behind the Film
The credits list Abbas Syed and Imtiyaz Shaikh as producers, Gaurav C Bhat as cinematographer, Vaibhav Kothari as editor, and Sagar Kapoor as music composer. Reportedly shot in just two days, the film punches well above its production constraints in emotional scope.
Festival Recognition
Makhmal went on to win the Best Short Film award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, a recognition that underscored its craft and storytelling. For Shroff, the short was significant in that it offered an intimate, stripped-down format far removed from the big-ticket entertainers that defined his mainstream career.
Jackie Shroff's Legacy in Hindi Cinema
Shroff made his acting debut with Swami Dada in 1982 and built one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable bodies of work, headlining films including Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Parinda, Rangeela, and Gardish. He has frequently used social media to mark film anniversaries and celebrate the work of colleagues, keeping older projects alive in public memory. The Makhmal anniversary post is the latest instance of that tradition.
Point of View
But Makhmal deserves more than a nostalgic scroll-past. A Best Short Film win at San Francisco from a two-day shoot is a genuine craft achievement — and a reminder that Shroff's range extends well beyond the action-hero archetype his mainstream career projected. Hindi cinema rarely celebrates its short-film ecosystem with the seriousness it warrants; moments like this are among the few times that work surfaces for a wider audience.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the short film Makhmal about?
Makhmal follows Jamal, a zardosi artisan in Mumbai who is separated from his wife and longs to spend time with his young daughter, with a piece of velvet serving as a symbolic link between them. The film was written and directed by Faraz Ali.
Did Makhmal win any awards?
Yes. Makhmal won the Best Short Film award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, a notable recognition for an Indian short reportedly completed in just two days.
Who stars in Makhmal alongside Jackie Shroff?
Child artiste Palak Dey plays the young daughter opposite Shroff's character. The film also features Deepti Sharma and Bhuvan Arora in supporting roles.
When was Makhmal released and who made it?
Makhmal was released 11 years ago, marking its anniversary in October 2025. It was written and directed by Faraz Ali, produced by Abbas Syed and Imtiyaz Shaikh, with cinematography by Gaurav C Bhat and music by Sagar Kapoor.
What is Jackie Shroff known for in Bollywood?
Jackie Shroff is one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable actors, having debuted with Swami Dada in 1982 and gone on to headline films such as Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Parinda, Rangeela, and Gardish across a career spanning more than four decades.
