Celebs mourn the demise of Shyam Benegal

Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, whose work revolutionised

Indian parallel cinema

, has died at the age of 90. He passed away on Monday (December 23) evening at around 6:30 pm after a prolonged battle with a kidney-related ailment. His death occurred at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai, as confirmed by his daughter, Pia Benegal.
Benegal was widely respected for films such as 'Ankur', 'Manthan', and 'Mandi', which were central to shaping the

New Wave movement

in India during the 1970s and 1980s. Filmmakers Shekhar Kapur, Hansal Mehta, Sudhir Mishra, Akshay Kumar, and others shared heartfelt notes on their social media handles.

The film industry reacted with an outpouring of tributes. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur wrote on his X handle (formerly Twitter): “He created ‘the new wave’ cinema. #ShyamBenegal will always be remembered as the man who changed the direction of Indian cinema with films like 'Ankur', 'Manthan', and countless others. He created stars out of great actors like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Farewell, my friend and guide.”

Hansal Mehta also expressed his admiration for the late director, calling him a source of inspiration. "Go well, Shyam babu. Thank you for inspiring many like me. Thank you for the cinema. Thank you for giving tough stories and flawed characters such amazing dignity. Truly among the last of our greats," he shared.

Sudhir Mishra reflected on the emotional depth present in Benegal’s films, writing: "Much will be written about Shyam Benegal, but for me, not many talk about the fact that there was a lament in his films and a sadness about the fact we were not living in the best of all possible worlds. If there is one thing Shyam Benegal expressed best, it was the poetry of the ordinary face and ordinary lives."

Actor Akshay Kumar also paid his respects, saying: "Pained to know of Shyam Benegal ji’s demise. One of the finest filmmakers in our country, truly a legend. Om Shanti 🙏."

Benegal, who received the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and the

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

, leaves behind a legacy that influenced generations of filmmakers. His works, such as 'Manthan', 'Zubeidaa', and 'Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero', remain landmarks of excellence in Indian cinema. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by close friends and family, including celebrated actors such as Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.