Veteran Stars Reunite to Celebrate Shyam Benegal’s 90th Birthday
June 26, 2025
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An Iconic Gathering of India’s Cinematic Legends
On December 14, legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by the very actors who helped bring his visionary cinema to life. Among the attendees were celebrated artists Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Divya Dutta, Rajit Kapur, Atul Tiwari, and Kunal Kapoor, forming a rare and touching reunion of Indian parallel cinema’s finest talents.
Shabana Azmi, who made her debut in Benegal’s critically acclaimed Ankur (1974), shared heartfelt photos from the gathering on social media, captioning one:
“Some of his actors with Shyam Benegal on his 90th birthday. Mashallah.”
Another intimate moment showed Azmi with longtime co-star Naseeruddin Shah, with whom she shares a rich filmography. She wrote:
“On Shyam Benegal’s 90th birthday with my co-actor of many films and my favourite actor @NaseeruddinShah. Why aren’t more people casting us together?”
The two have starred in several cinematic masterpieces that helped shape the landscape of Indian parallel cinema, including Nishant, Junoon, Sparsh, Arth, Masoom, Mandi, and Paar. Their onscreen chemistry and powerful performances remain iconic in Indian film history.
Shyam Benegal is widely regarded as the pioneer of New Indian Cinema. Known for his deeply realistic, socially conscious storytelling, his films such as Manthan, Bhumika, Mandi, and Nishant continue to be studied and celebrated across generations. His legacy not only introduced new talent but also redefined narrative cinema in India.
This birthday celebration was more than a personal milestone — it was a reunion of minds and memories that have shaped Indian storytelling. As fans and fellow filmmakers joined in commemorating the occasion, it served as a moving reminder of cinema’s power to connect, challenge, and endure.