Shekhar Kapur, Chiranjeevi to Manoj Bajpayee: Celebs pay tribute to Shyam Benegal

Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, 90, died on December 23. Celebrities such as Shekhar Kapur, Chiranjeevi, and Manoj Bajpayee paid tribute to the visionary director on social media.

In Short

• Filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away at 90 in Mumbai
• Celebrities like Shekhar Kapur and Chiranjeevi paid tributes
• Benegal was a pioneer of 'new wave' cinema in India

Celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal died on Monday at the Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. He was 90. Many celebrities, including Shekhar Kapur, Hansal Mehta, Manoj Bajpayee, Chiranjeevi, and Karan Johar, shared their condolences on social media. The filmmaker had been suffering from a chronic kidney-related disease.

Director Shekhar Kapur paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal. Kapur praised Benegal as the architect of what is now known as “new wave” cinema in India. "He created ‘the new wave’ cinema. #shyambenegal will always be remembered as the man that changed the direction of Indian Cinema with films like Ankur, Manthan and countless others. He created stars out great actors like Shabama Azmi and Smita Patil. Farewell my friend and guide (sic)," he wrote on X.

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi paid his last respects to the renowned director on X. He wrote, "Deeply saddened at the departure of Shri Shyam Benegal,one of the finest film makers and great intellectuals of our country. He discovered & nurtured some of the brightest film talents of India. His films, biographies and documentaries form part of India’s greatest cultural treasure!! A fellow Hyderabadi & former Rajya Sabha member, Benegal Sab’s masterful works will always be held in great esteem in Indian Cinema! Rest In Peace Sir (sic)."

Manoj Bajpayee, who worked with Benegal in the film Zubeidaa, shared a BTS photo from the film's set and called it a 'heartbreaking loss. "A heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema. Shyam Benegal wasn’t just a legend, he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations. Working with him in Zubeidaa was a transformative experience for me, exposing me to his unique style of storytelling & nuanced understanding of performances. I’ll forever be grateful for the lessons I learned under his direction. It was an absolute honor to have had the opportunity to work with him. His legacy will live on in the stories he told and the lives he touched. Rest in peace Shyam Babu, Om Shanti (sic," read his note.

Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar and Kajol also paid their tribute to the legendary filmmaker.

Anupam Kher also mourned the veteran filmmaker's death.

Shyam Benegal was known for films like Ankur, Mandi, Manthan and more, most of which were released in the mid-70s or 80s, and came to be known as part of parallel cinema in India.