Shabana Azmi on Shyam Benegal as he turns 90, “He is my mentor and guru, albeit a reluctant one” 90 : Bollywood News
Shabana Azmi’s illustrious career began with her Christopher Columbus Shyam Benegal’s anchorwhich kickstarted her romance with immortality. Now when Benegal turned 90, Shabana turned emotional as she said, “I wish him a very long and healthy life. He changed the face of Hindi cinema and I am so fortunate to have started my career with him. If not for him, my career would have taken a completely different trajectory if I had not started with anchor,
Shabana Azmi on Shyam Benegal as he turns 90, “He is my mentor and guru, albeit a reluctant one”
She fondly sees Shyam Babu as much more than a filmmaker. “He is my mentor and guru, albeit a reluctant one,” she said. “But above all the other equations that I share with him, I consider him a dear dear friend. I don’t have enough words to describe what he means to me. I value the fact that he takes the trouble to call me when he has watched a performance of mine, particularly when he hasn’t liked a performance, he makes it a point to tell me where he I have gone wrong. I deeply DEEPLY value, appreciate and love him for the person that he is.”
Shabana Azmi, who has worked in some of Shyam Babu’s best films including the pioneering Ankur, Nishant and Mandi, brimmed over with warm emotions when she said, “I have always called him my reluctant guru. He has shaped my choices, sharpened my aesthetics, expanded my view of the world. So, in every way he is my guru and my mentor. But he shies away from wearing that mantle and would rather I consider him a friend. Which of course, he is, as is his wife and beloved partner Nira, the strength behind Shyam,” said the veteran actress.
Shabana attributes the course of her career to anchor“Had my film career not started with Ankur my journey as an actor could have proven to be difficult,” she said. “Had Shyamu not given me the roles he did, my talent if any, would have remained a closely guarded secret!”
It’s not just a professional director-actress relationship that the two have shared. “Shyam is my well-wisher and takes the trouble to follow my work and discuss it with me,” she said. “If he doesn’t like my interpretation of a character in some film, he will make it a point to let me know and we discuss it like adults. I value his analysis deeply and am very touched that he cares enough to give me his honest opinion.”
Shedding light on man behind the legend Shabana revealed, “Shyamu is also one of the most generous and warm-hearted people I know. He is very encouraging of young filmmakers and will go out of his way to connect people who can help them. He has not a single mean bone in his body!”
Shabana’s birthday wishes for Shyam Babu? “He is 90 mashallah, and raring to go! I loved his television serial Samvidhan. Also welcome his most recent feature films Welcome To Sajjanpur and Well done AbbaHe has reinvented himself and remains relevant to the times.”
Getting emotional, Shabana said, “He has been my mentor my guru and my friend. Shyam Benegal’s name will be written in golden letters every time the history of Indian cinema is written. I’m just returning from IFFK Trivandrum where my retrospective starts with anchor today, which remains the torch bearer for realistic films in Hindi. I am very fortunate to have worked with him in so many films. I can take many risks when Shyam is directing me because I trust he will stop me if I am going overboard. I wish him a very happy birthday and many glorious years ahead.”
Shabana ended with a characteristic flourish, “Tum jiyo hazaro saal Shyamu, and cast me in a film soooonest.”
Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan urges fans to celebrate Raj Kapoor’s legacy through his classic films in theatres: “Don’t miss the opportunity to watch these Raj Kapoor classics”
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