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Death of Shyam Benegal: On December 23, 2024, at the age of 90, renowned director Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of Indian parallel cinema, died away. Benegal, who is renowned for his innovative contributions to Indian film, was suffering with severe renal illness. A few days before, on December 14, he had celebrated his 90th birthday with friends and relatives from the movie business.

Bollywood superstars have been paying respect to the visionary director and his legacy since his death, which has left a gap in the film industry. On social media, actor Akshay Kumar shared his sadness, saying, “I’m sad to hear about Shyam Benegal ji’s passing. A legend and one of the best directors in our nation. Om Shanti.

“A heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema,” said Manoj Bajpayee, who costarred with Shyam Benegal in the movie Zubeidaa. In addition to becoming a legend, Shyam Benegal was a visionary who changed the way stories were told and motivated generations of people. My time working with him in Zubeidaa changed me since I was exposed to his distinct narrative style and sophisticated performance analysis. I will always be appreciative of the lessons I gained from working under him. Peace be with you, Shyam Babu. Om Shanti.

Benegal was regarded by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur as a pioneer who transformed Indian cinema. “He created ‘the new wave’ cinema,” he wrote.With movies like Ankur, Manthan, and several more, Shyam Bengal will always be regarded as the man who transformed the course of Indian cinema. He turned talented performers like Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi become stars. Goodbye, my guide and buddy.

Sonali Kulkarni, an actress, spoke about her experience working on Well Done Abba with Shyam Benegal. Working on Well Done Abba, a film that had a nice break from Shyam Babu’s typical genre, was an honor for me. He brought a lot of happiness and humor to the set, even though he is known for being a pioneer of Indian parallel film.

Kulkarni went on to write, “I can still clearly recall my first encounter with him at the age of 17. I walked inside his office, which seemed like a shrine of Indian film, my hands trembling. Shyam Babu talked to me with such affection in spite of his imposing heritage. My appreciation for their enormous contributions to Indian film has grown as a result of seeing his relationship with Govind Nihalani. I felt like I was touching a piece of cinematic history every time I interacted with Shyam Babu. I will always treasure the times I spent with dad, even if I regret not being able to meet him on his 90th birthday.

“We have lost another stalwart of the Film Industry today,” tweeted megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who also expressed sadness at Benegal’s passing. Benegal, Shyam, dies. Condolences and prayers.

Hansal Mehta, the filmmaker, also posted on X, saying, “Go well, Shyam babu. I appreciate you motivating others like myself. I appreciate the movie. I appreciate the incredible respect you have bestowed to difficult tales and damaged individuals. Definitely one of the last of our greats.

Bhumika: The Role (1977), Junoon (1978), Arohan (1982), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004), Manthan (1976), and Well Done Abba (2010) were among the films that earned Shyam Benegal many National Film Awards over his storied career. As one of India’s most renowned filmmakers, he was recognized with the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. “Yes, he has died,” said Pia Benegal, his daughter, who verified the news. The loss is too significant. Generations of filmmakers and viewers will continue to draw inspiration from Shyam Benegal’s contributions to the film industry.