When Shyam Benegal revealed he was envious of his cousin Guru Dutt's success: 'I used to be very critical of his work'

Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal, known for award-winning films like Ankur, Bhumika, Manthan, and Nishant, passed away at 90.

In a recent YouTube interview with Samdish Bhatia, he shared who he felt most envious of during his career. Shyam Benegal admitted that he experienced it in his younger days. Among filmmakers, he deeply admired Satyajit Ray and considered him unmatched in India. He also held great respect for a few others, including his cousin, Guru Dutt.

Shyam Benegal shared that his feelings towards his cousin, Guru Dutt, were complex. While he envied Guru Dutt’s success as a filmmaker, he was also critical of his work. He acknowledged Dutt’s creative restlessness, which led to both iconic films like Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and missteps like Kaagaz Ke Phool.



Shyam Benegal and Guru Dutt were second cousins, as Benegal's paternal grandmother and Dutt's maternal grandmother were sisters.

Shyam Benegal was a pioneer of the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, renowned for his realistic storytelling and insightful social commentary, which set his work apart from mainstream cinema.as celebrated for its deep social commentary and realistic portrayal of Indian society.



Shyam Benegal was renowned for directing iconic films such as Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Bhumika (1977), Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), and Zubeidaa (2001), among many others. His work was celebrated for its deep social commentary and realistic portrayal of Indian society.