Ace filmmaker and screenwriter Shyam Benegal, a legend in Indian cinema, died on Monday at the age of 90. Karisma shared her memories with the filmmaker

In an interview with us, Karisma Kapoor recalls her experience working with Shyam Benegal in Zubeidaa and the filmmaker’s nuanced approach to storytelling

He made me take off all the make up on sets and just have stained lips. He told me to forget everything that I had learnt in commercial cinema and start afresh and like an obedient student I did just that. He would say don’t act, feel the lines and say it. Since it was in sync sound, I had to get the accent, intonation... everything right.

Directed by Shyam Benegal, Zubeidaa received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and Karisma Kapoor clinched a Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). The film was released in 2001.

Karisma Kapoor recalls her enriching experience working with legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, celebrating his extraordinary attention to detail and lasting impact on Indian cinema.

Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Khan has shared that her favourite Shyam Benegal, pioneer of India’s parallel cinema, is the 2001 film “Zubeidaa”.

Tributes pour in for celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal, with Amitabh Bachchan, Nafisa Ali, Karisma Kapoor, Vishal Bhardwaj and Ajay Devgn remembering the ‘stalwart’ and ‘legend’ for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Shyam Benegal’s classic films such as ‘Ankur’, ‘Nishant’ and ‘Manthan’ explore social issues, and are marked by stellar performances