Shyam Benegal’s 90th birthday picture with Shabana Azmi goes viral after death
Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal died on Monday at the age of 90. The celebrated director, known for iconic films like Manthan and Mandi, had marked his 90th birthday on December 14. Actor Shabana Azmi, who debuted with Benegal’s Ankur in 1974, shared pictures from the birthday celebration, which remains his last public appearance.
“Some of his actors with Shyam Benegal on his 90th birthday. Mashallah (sic),” wrote Azmi in her post.
The group photo featured prominent names like Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Naseeruddin Shah, Divya Dutta, Shabana Azmi, Rajit Kapur, Atul Tiwari, filmmaker-actor Kunal Kapoor, and others.
Benegal died at around 6:30 pm on Monday at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. His daughter Pia Benegal confirmed the news to India Today.
Shyam Benegal made his feature film debut with Ankur (1974), starring Anant Nag and Shabana Azmi. The film received widespread critical acclaim and won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film, establishing Benegal as a pioneer in Indian cinema.
His third film, Nishant (1975), achieved international recognition with a Palme d’Or nomination at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. Featuring a star-studded cast, including Girish Karnad, Shabana Azmi, Anant Nag, Amrish Puri, Smita Patil, and Naseeruddin Shah, it stands as a testament to his filmmaking brilliance.
Benegal’s final directorial venture, Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), chronicled the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
