Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Tributes poured in from Bollywood as legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a stalwart of Indian cinema, passed away on Monday at the age of 90. Benegal, who was undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease, breathed his last at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central.
Actor Boman Irani shared his heartfelt admiration for the filmmaker. Speaking to media, he said, “I admire him, I loved him truly… I got to learn from him, perform with him, and spend time with him. Those were the best days of my life.”
Actress Divya Dutta expressed her grief, calling Benegal’s death a “huge personal loss.” She said, “A legend and an era have ended. I have no words right now. Processing. It’s a huge personal loss.”
Shyam Benegal’s remarkable filmography, including Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, and Bhumika, established him as a pioneer of Indian parallel cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. His contributions earned him seven National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi, as well as the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Actor Shreyas Talpade, who collaborated with Benegal on the comedy film Welcome to Sajjanpur, reminisced about his experience working with the director. “The work he has done in the film industry—it will be very difficult for people like us to touch that level. I consider myself very lucky because I got an opportunity to work with him on Sajjanpur, and those memories are as fresh as they were in 2000,” Talpade said.
Highlighting Benegal’s unique approach, Talpade added, “He made films with conviction and discipline, gave actors confidence and freedom, and believed in creating a good product together.”
Actor Pratik Gandhi, known for his role in Scam 1992, also paid tribute, calling Benegal’s films “a complete learning institute” for actors and filmmakers. “I couldn’t work with him, and that sorrow will always be there. His films like Kaliyug and Manthan are a complete study in themselves for filmmakers, actors, and writers,” Gandhi said.
Born on December 14, 1934, in Hyderabad, Shyam Benegal hailed from a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. He worked extensively with talents from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the National School of Drama (NSD), collaborating with legendary actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, and Shabana Azmi.
Benegal’s films left an indelible mark on Indian cinema, addressing socio-political themes with depth and sensitivity. His most recent project, Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), an India-Bangladesh co-production, depicted the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.
Beyond feature films, Benegal made significant contributions to documentaries and television, with iconic series such as Bharat Ek Khoj and Samvidhaan. His tenure as the Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and his role as a jury member for prestigious film festivals underscored his influence in the world of cinema.
The passing of Shyam Benegal marks the end of an era, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.