‘I Would Have Remained A Secret If…’

‘…Shyam
had
not
given
me
the
roles
he
did.’

Shabana
Azmi’s
illustrious
career
began
with
Shyam
Benegal&rss

Ankur,
which
kickstarted
her
romance
with
immortality.

Bollywood
celebrated
Raj
Kapoor’s
birth
centenary
on
December
14
but
the
day
was
a
landmark
birthday
for
another
Bollywood
legend:
Shyam
Benegal.

Benegal
turned
90,
and
Shabana
wishes
him
emotionally:
“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
and

Ankur,
my
career
would
have
taken
a
completely
different
trajectory.”

“He
is
my
mentor
and
guru,
albeit
a
reluctant
one,”
Shabana
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

“But
above
all
the
equations
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
doesn’t
like
it.
He
makes
it
a
point
to
tell
me
where
I
have
gone
wrong.
We
discuss
it
like
adults.
I
deeply
value,
appreciate
and
love
him
for
the
person
that
he
is.”

Shabana
has
worked
in
some
of
Shyambabu‘s
best
films,
including

Ankur,
Nishant
and

Mandi.

“He
has
shaped
my
choices,
sharpened
my
aesthetics,
expanded
my
view
of
the
world.
So
in
every
way,
he
is
my
guru
and
mentor
but
he
shies
away
from
wearing
that
mantle.
He
would
rather
I
consider
him
a
friend,
which,
of
course,
he
is,
as
is
his
wife
Nira,
the
strength
behind
Shyam.

“Had
Shyam
not
given
me
the
roles
he
did,
my
talent
if
any,
would
have
remained
a
closely
guarded
secret.”

Shedding
light
on
man
behind
the
legend,
Shabana
reveals,
“Shyam
is
one
of
the
most
generous
and
warm-hearted
people
I
know.
He
is
very
encouraging
of
young
film-makers
and
will
go
out
of
his
way
to
connect
people
who
can
help
them.
He
has
not
a
single
mean
bone
in
his
body!”

“I
can
take
many
risks
when
Shyam
is
directing
me
because
I
trust
he
will
stop
me
if
I
am
going
overboard.”

Ends
Shabana
with
a
characteristic
flourish:
“Tum
jiyo
hazaro
saal,
Shyam,
and
cast
me
in
a
film
soonest.”