Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal marks 90th birthday with ongoing work

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal celebrates his 90th birthday, viewing it as just another day filled with routine and work. Renowned for pioneering the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, his films likee “Ankur,” “Nishant,” and “Bhumika” are celebrated for their realism and social commentary. Despite facing health challenges, including dialysis three times a week, he remains dedicated to filmmaking, currently working on two to three diverse projects for the big screen. December 14 also marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor, whom Benegal praised as a brilliant actor and filmmaker.

The filmmaker, who made path breaking films such as “Ankur”, “Nishant”, “Manthan”, “Bhumika”, “Junoon”, and “Mandi”, turned 90 on Saturday.

“We all grow old. I don’t do anything great . It may be a special day but I don’t celebrate it specifically. I cut a cake at the office with my team,” Benegal told PTI.

Despite the physical challenges that come with age, including frequent hospital visits for dialysis three times a week, Benegal is committed to his passion for filmmaking.

I’m working on two to three projects; they are all different from one another. It’s difficult to say which one I will make. They are all for the big screen,” said the director, whose most recent film was the 2023 biographical “Mujib: The Making of a Nation”.

He was a brilliant actor; he had a fine mind. I’ve seen his films, I liked ‘Shree 420’," Benegal said about the cinema icon.