Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after suffering from chronic kidney disease. He was 90.
His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He was also credited with a new genre of filmmaking.
Benegal passed away on Monday at Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital, and his cremation will take place on Tuesday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing his daughter Piya.
"Benegal had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That’s the reason for his death,” Piya said.
Many paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker on social media platform X.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote that Benegal told stories without pretense. "They were raw and real, about the struggles of ordinary people. His films had craft and conviction.”
"Deeply saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
He was a mentor to top Indian actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri who made their mark in Bollywood’s popular cinema as well.
"I have lost my foster father, a man to whom I owe more than I can say,” posted Naseeruddin Shah.
"Shyam Benegal was not just a legend; he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations,” said actor Manoj Bajpayee.
Benegal came into the limelight in the 1970s, with a series of films that challenged mainstream Bollywood. His films Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977) represented a parallel cinema dealing with the social realities of a poor nation.
“Ankur” explored the feudal divide in India, while ”Manthan" was based on the story of the country’s cooperative dairy milk movement.
Benegal was widely known for his series “Bharat Ek Khoj,” a landmark 53-episode television series based on the book Discovery of India, written by India’s first prime minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and chronicled the country’s troubled passages, from ancient times to modernity.
He also directed a 2023 biopic on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh’s freedom struggle against Pakistan in the 1970s. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August following a student movement, is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Benegal was born in December 1934, in Hyderabad in southern India, and had an early launch in the world of cinema. He earned an Economics degree from Hyderabad’s Osmania University and established the Hyderabad Film Society. He also ventured into advertising, where he directed over 900 sponsored documentaries and advertising films.
Benegal is survived by his wife Nira Benegal and daughter Piya.
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Amber Heard has voiced her support for Blake Lively following her sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni.
The 37-year-old actress recently launched a lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star, accusing him of harassing her while making the romantic drama film – and Amber has now thrown her support behind Blake, revealing that it reminds her of her defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp.
Speaking to NBC News, Amber said: "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.' I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
In 2022, Amber was found to have defamed her ex-husband with an article in which she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse.
The 61-year-old actor – who always denied abusing his ex-wife – was awarded $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, while Amber won one of three counter-claims, and was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages.
The former couple – who divorced in 2017 – both presented different versions of their romance during the high-profile trial.
Meanwhile, Blake recently accused her former director of causing her "severe emotional distress" during the movie shoot.
The actress – who played Justin's on-screen love interest – subsequently told the New York Times newspaper: "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted."
Justin has denied the allegations, with his lawyer describing the claims as "categorically false".
Bryan Freedman, who is acting as a lawyer for the actor and his Wayfarer Studios production company, told Variety: "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media."
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Burt, the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” and continued to impress visitors with his fiery temper and commanding presence, has died.
Burt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, said. He was at least 90 years old.
“Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor — an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts.
“He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years,” the aquarium wrote.
A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters (16 feet) long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove.
The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee.
Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water.
But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the movie goofed by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout.
The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a “Cage of Death” which it says is the nation's only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honor Burt's legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park.”
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
King Charles’ former butler believes he will enjoy a “celebratory” Christmas this year.
The 76-year-old monarch announced in January he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate, shortly after his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales had had abdominal surgery ahead of preventative chemotherapy, and Grant Harrold – who was a butler to the king from 2004 to 2011 – thinks the pair will be looking to enjoy more “normal” celebrations after a likely anxious end to 2023.
Speaking on behalf of Slingo, he said: “This year will be different for the royal family from last year as I’m guessing that both Charles and Catherine knew things weren’t quite right and while they would’ve put on a brave face, there would’ve been some uncertainty there as they didn’t know what the future would hold.
“But it seems, God willing, that both are on the road to recovery so it should be more ‘normal’ for them and more of a celebratory one.
“But the main thing for them is that they will want to be with family and friends, just like everyone else, and have good health for the following year.”
And Grant expects Charles will make things as stress-free as possible for Catherine, who has three children with husband Prince William and has made a gradual return to public duties in recent months.
He added: “I think they’ll both be looking out for each other, they adore each other, I’m sure he’ll want her to be completely relaxed and there will be no pressure or effort at all for Catherine.
“Even to have gone there would be no effort or pressure, obviously he would’ve liked her there not because it’s rules but because it’s family and he’ll be delighted she is coming.
“He obviously adores her and they have a great relationship.”
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Blake Lively's 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' co-stars have pledged "solidarity" to her after she sued Justin Baldoni.
The 37-year-old actress has taken legal action against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director, alleging sexual harassment and accusing him of waging a smear campaign against her, and now America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn have issued a joint message of support for their friend.
The trio praised the "courage" of their "sister" in speaking out and expressed how "appalled" they felt when they read the allegations.
They wrote in a statement shared to Instagram: "As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.
"Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us', we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.
"Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.
"We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment.
"We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others."
The actresses ended their statement urging fans to read the New York Times' in-depth reporting on the legal battle.
They added: "For anyone seeking more information or engaging in this important conversation online, please read the full legal complaint in the investigative reporting by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for the New York Times."
In addition, Amber added extra comments on her Instagram Story, explaining she had been a "confidante" for Blake amid her "painful" experience making the movie.
She added: "I'm glad all of this has come to light with solid reporting and receipts. I ask you to please read the full article and specifically, the legal complaint at the link."
Blake submitted her 10-claim complaint with the California Civil Rights Department last week, in which she accused Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and others involved with making the movie of sexual harassment and a "coordinated effort to destroy her reputation".
The star claimed the film was shot amid a "hostile work environment that nearly derailed production" and alleged a campaign against her was launched by the actor – who also directed the movie – and his company after its release.
What's more, the actress demanded "no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous 'pornography addiction', no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew's genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake's weight, and no further mention of Blake's dead father".
According to the lawsuit, Sony Pictures – the company responsible for distributing the film – approved the former 'Gossip Girl' star's requests. But the actress has alleged that Justin subsequently engaged in a "social manipulation" campaign in a bid to "destroy" her reputation.
The actor – who has been dropped by his talent agency, WME in the wake of the claims – has denied the allegations and accused Blake of making an attempt to "fix" her own "negative reputation".
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Nelly Furtado repeatedly slapped her "first celebrity crush", Mark Wahlberg" until he was "red" in the face.
The 'Promiscuous' singer made a brief appearance in 2008 action movie 'Max Payne' – in which the 53-year-old star played the titular detective – and not only was she feeling flustered at the thought of meeting her idol, her lack of acting experience made her unaware she didn't have to get violent during rehearsals.
Speaking on the 'Handsome' podcast, she said: "It's a short scene but I'm at a wake and my husband has just died and it's kind of Mark Wahlberg's character's fault, so I'm really angry at Mark Wahlberg in the scene. I don't remember the character's name… Was he Max Payne?
" Anyways, I'm in the scene, we're at a fictional wake, there's a lot of extras, there are a lot of people, I've hardly acted before and I am feeling the pressure.
"I'm like, 'Mark Wahlberg is about to walk on set' and not only do I have lines with him, I have to slap him in the face.'
"Because I'm a novice — I'm a singer, I'm not an actor — I actually thought that I could slap him several times on the face to practice.
"So they're like, 'And, action!' And I'm like, whapaw, whapaw! And his face is getting red and he's so nice, he doesn't say 'You don't have to really practice the slap.'"
"So I'm there just slapping Mark Wahlberg. Meanwhile my 14-year-old self is like, 'Oh my God!'"
And Nelly admitted she had difficulty crying during a serious scene but fake tears got her through the moment.
She said: "I barely got through the scene. But I made it happen."
The 46-year-old singer – who has 21-year-old daughter Nevis with her ex-partner Jasper Gahunia, as well as a six-year-old daughter and five-year-old son with Odd Future rapper Jerry aka Hodgy – told the story as she recalled her teenage crush on Mark during his days as pop singer Marky Mark.
She said: "When I was about 13 or 14, I had a poster of Mark Wahlberg's Calvin Klein ad.
"I had Marky Mark when he was all about the Calvins.
"He was my first celebrity crush, I think."
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Queen Camilla reportedly "adored" saucy TV series 'Rivals'.
The wife of King Charles is said to have been keen to see the small screen adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestselling novel so she reportedly had a preview copy sent to her which allowed her to binge watch it before it landed on streaming site Disney Plus.
The Times newspaper reports: "There was … something that certainly perked the Queen up this year. I am told that she adored 'Rivals' …
"So keen was Camilla, a former horsewoman, to see the programme that a preview copy was dispatched to her before it was available to the public. "
However, the TV show wasn't quite as fascinating for Charles. The newspaper added: "The King? Not so much. He is known to use a tablet on which he is more likely to watch documentaries that have been recommended to him by friends."
Charles will address the public in a pre-recorded message which will be broadcast on Christmas Day (25.12.24) but the publication reports he's not planning to focus on the royal family's difficult year – during which the King and his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales both started treatment for cancer.
A source insisted his speech won't mirror the late Queen Elizabeth's Annus Horribilis speech in 1992 following a troubled year that included a fire at Windsor Castle and Charles' split from Diana, Princess of Wales.
An insider said: "He doesn’t like to think that it has been all that horribilis – just a difficult set of circumstances to be dealt with as best as possible …
"He doesn’t really like talking about himself. He will reflect on the year from a personal, national and international perspective and things he has done throughout the year with a focus on how mutual support can strengthen one and all."
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Miles Teller has high hopes for the Michael Jackson biopic.
The 37-year-old actor will portray the King of Pop's lawyer John Branca in the upcoming movie 'Michael' and revealed that his lifelong fascination with the 'Thriller' artist was key to persuading him to feature in the film.
In an interview with Collider, Miles said: "From the time I was a little kid, I've been fascinated with Michael Jackson. I learned how do to the moonwalk and was like, (imitates Michael), even when I was just a little kid.
"He's the greatest performer of all time, in my opinion. He was such a complicated individual, and I think we'll get to explore that.
"Michael's nephew, Jaafar (Jackson), is playing Michael, and it's uncanny. I'm excited."
The 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor added: "It's the King of Pop, baby. It's gonna be a rock show."
The biopic, which is slated for release in October 2025, is set to cover the entirety of Jackson's career – from child stardom to his death in 2009 – and star Colman Domingo (who will play Michael's father Joe Jackson) insists it will "tell the story of a very complicated person" amid concern that it could brush over child sexual abuse allegations against the 'Billie Jean' hitmaker.
He told Entertainment Tonight earlier this year: "Michael Jackson is undeniably one of the most prolific artists that has ever been on this planet.
"He's a complicated human being and I think what the film will do is tell the story of a very complicated person."
Colman also lavished praise on Jaafar's portrayal of his uncle in the movie.
The 'Rustin' star said: "When people watch Jaafar Jackson and what he does, they're gonna be blown away. There's a spiritual connection he has with his uncle. It's beautiful.
"I think it's gonna surprise people, what we do with this film."
'Michael' director Antoine Fuqua previously promised that the flick would include "the good, the bad and the ugly" aspects of Jackson's life and career.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Fuqua said: "Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad and the ugly."
The 59-year-old director added he was “blown away” by how much Jaafar – the son of Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson – was able to channel his uncle, especially in terms of his dancing and singing.
'The Magnificent Seven' filmmaker said: "It’s uncanny how much he's like Michael. Sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It's really uncanny.
"Graham King, who is a fantastic producer, found him, and introduced him to me, and I was blown away."
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Stepping onto the set of “Squid Game” season two, Lee Jung-jae felt like he had never left.
“Including promotion, I'd been living with Gi-hun for about two years," said Lee in a recent interview. “I really felt like I was him," he said in a recent interview.
“Squid Game” follows an underground competition in Korea that recruits people in debt to participate in childlike games for money. Once the games begin, the contestants realize there are deadly consequences.
The show was a global hit when it was released in 2021, becoming Netflix's most-watched series. It also won numerous accolades including Primetime Emmy Awards for acting for Lee Jung-jae and directing for Hwang Dong-hyuk. Lee's career catapulted, taking him to the Cannes Film Festival and giving him his first English-language role in the “Star Wars” series “The Acolyte” for Disney+.
Lee says when Netflix ordered a second season of “Squid Game,” he questioned the timeline because it took Hwang years to work on the first one. "I wondered, ‘How many years will it take him to write season two,’" said Lee. Hwang, in turn, surprised everyone — including himself — by taking just six months to write season two and a third and final season. “I'm not sure I'll ever be able to write something that fast again,” he said.
Creating new characters and their individual stories came easily. The biggest, challenge, Hwang said, was deciding what should happen with Gi-hun. Lee says when he read the scripts he thought Hwang “really is a genius.”
It's rare for even successful TV shows in Korea to have more than one season so it was a big swing, even for the new cast.
“There’s a Korean phrase, ‘there’s not a sequel that does better than its prequel,’ said actor Yang Dong-geong, whose character debuts in season two. "I've been careful because we aren't really sure what the reaction will be.” The outlook is positive. Season two has already been nominated in the best drama series category at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.
The opportunity to work on a project with worldwide appeal is a dream come true for a performer. Lee Byung-hun, who reprises his villain role from season one, has appeared in big budget English-language films like “G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra” with Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid and “Red 2” with Bruce Willis. It's “Squid Game” that he credits for taking his career to another level.
“I’ve been an actor for over three decades and … maybe most people outside of Korea have never seen anything that I’ve been in. If anyone through ‘Squid Game’ wishes to see more of me or becomes more curious about my previous works, as an actor, nothing would be more rewarding or bring me greater joy."
The audition process moved slowly. Jo Yu-ri recalls waiting two months between the first and second-round. When she finally got the part Jo says, “I actually remember crying.” The actors were asked to not speak publicly about their casting to wait for Netflix to make an announcement. “There were a couple of close friends that popped champagne for me when they found out," said Yang.
Netflix's “Squid Game” universe is also growing. A second season of a reality competition show based on the series has been ordered and an English version is in development. Season three of the original has also completed filming and is in post-production.
Season two is not without controversy. The new episodes feature a transgender character played by Park Sung-hoon. Hwang says he understands why hiring a trans actor would have been ideal, but that the casting is a reflection of how the LGBTQ community and gender identity is viewed in Korea.
“To be honest with you, in Korea, when it comes to the LGBTQ and gender minority community and culture compared to the Western worlds, it’s not as widely socially accepted yet. Unfortunately, a lot of the groups are marginalized and neglected from society, which is heartbreaking," said Hwang.
“We don’t have a very large pool of actors that allow for authentic casting when it comes to transgender characters. We did our research. We tried to find someone who we thought could be the best fit. However, we weren’t able to.” Hwang also went on to say that Park's talent and approach to the character ended up making him “the perfect fit.”
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Pink and Carey Hart rely on "communication" to make their marriage work.
The 45-year-old pop superstar tied the knot with professional freestyle motocross competitor Carey, 49, in 2006 and just ahead of their 20th anniversary together, he admitted that while it "isn't easy", they just have to "talk" through the bad times.
He told UsWeekly: "I’m at the 19-year mark, so I’m still getting called an idiot. I look forward to 35 and I’m no longer an idiot.
"I guess it’s communication, having a teammate [and] talking through bad situations. Marriage isn’t easy, and it’s always coming back to the table."
Carey met the 'Get the Party Started' singer in 2001 and although they separated two years after tying the knot, they reconciled in 2010 and went on to have Willow, 13, and seven-year-old Jameson together.
Ahead of his debut on the reality military show 'Special Forces', Carey said of himself and his wife: "We are highly competitive at anything. Everything is a competition, especially with me.
"We are highly, highly competitive people.
"My wife is about to wrap up a two-year tour, which I came off tour to do this show, and we eat, sleep, breathe together and so it was probably a nice vacation for my wife, being away from me for a couple of weeks, but it was tough!"
Carey recently revealed that the 'Don't Let Me Get Me' hitmaker initially called him an "idiot" for agreeing to the challenge show in the first place, but ultimately decided to support him,
He told TooFab: "The first words were 'You're an idiot!' I hear that a lot. It's nothing new. But she knows my mentality and my personality.
"And she was like, 'Look, if you're going to do it, I support it. And go kick a**!"
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Nikki Glaser has spent nearly $100,000 on seeing Taylor Swift in concert.
The 40-year-old comedienne is a huge fan of 'Anti-Hero' songstress Taylor, 35, and racked up the six-figure sum attending the 'Eras' tour a total of 22 times during its 21-month run across the world.
She told People: "[I have spent] close to $100,000. I want to be clear that we're including travel expenses, hotels, and me also flying and putting up everyone that I would invite to go with me, plus tickets, plus merch. I would’ve paid even more!
The 'Someday You'll Die' star was thrilled to see that Taylor's tour had made a total of $2,077,618,725 during its lengthy run, and was able to justify the amount of money she spent on repeatedly going to it because she doesn't have any children.
She said: "It’s nice to see the total that she made. I love that it was down to the dollar, and I could see my own money in that number and be like, ‘Yeah, there it is." justify that cost because I don't have kids, and it's something that I consciously decided not to do, and it was something that I struggled with."
Nikki – who is in a relationship with producer Chris Convy – admitted it wasn't the "easiest decision" to not have children but ultimately came to the conclusion that being a mother wouldn't "fit in" with her lifestyle.
She said: "It wasn't the easiest decision. There was a part of me that was like, ‘I would like kids,’ but it just doesn't fit in my life. And so in order for me to make myself feel better about the decision, I did look up how much it cost to raise a kid. And so once I saw that number, I thought, ‘It's no problem for me to spend this on Taylor Swift."
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Drake Bell has reminded others that he "still has to live" with the trauma of his childhood abuse even though it is now out in the open.
The 38-year-old actor revealed on the docuseries 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV' that he was he was sexually abused by dialect coach Brian Peck during his time on Nickelodeon between 1999 and 2000 and while it "helped" to get his story out there, it wasn't really a career "comeback" as some have suggested to him."
Speaking on 'The Sarah Fraser Show' podcast, he said: "[People say] 'Is it this comeback?' but it's still something I live with every day. It did help, getting my story out and it's really great having people come up to me and sharing their stories and how it helped them but still at the end of the day it's not just because I put it in a documentary.
"It's something I've got to live with for the rest of my life."
The Discovery documentary featured a slew of former child stars from the late 1990s and early 2000s, who alleged instances of abuse and a toxic working environment at the hands of producer Dan Schneider.
Since the documentary aired, Drake has featured on 'The Masked Singer' and released 'Non-Stop Flight', his first album in four years.
In 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a 14 or 15-year-old. Bell was the plaintiff but his identity as the victim was not made public at the time.
Peck spent 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender.
Recalling the abuse, Drake said: "Brian and I became really close because we had a lot of the same interests, which looking back, I think that was probably a little calculated."
Drake landed his first job on the network in 1999, when he joined the cast of 'The Amanda Show' alongside Amanda Bynes and later landed the comedy 'Drake and Josh alongside Josh Peck (no relation), but Brian quickly became the teen star's manager, and Drake would often spend the night at his house as he recalled waking up "in shock" one evening to find Brian, now 63, assaulting him.
Back to Homepage
Must-Read Stories
Green Gables Daycare, Kelowna
Jan 11 6:00 pm
Green Gables Daycare, Kelowna
Feb 1 7:30 pm
Oyama Community Hall, Lake Country
Feb 8 6:00 pm
