Shyam Benegal’s daughter Pia calls reports of him undergoing dialysis at home ‘incorrect’: ‘He is as fine as he can be’

There were reports that Shyam Benegal, 88, was not in good shape following the failure of both his kidneys.

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal's daughter has reacted to speculations around his health. (Express Photo by Dilip Kagda)

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Shyam Benegal‘s daughter, costume designer Pia Benegal has rubbished reports that the veteran filmmaker is undergoing dialysis at home following kidney failure.

There were reports that the 88-year-old multiple National Award winning director was not in good shape following the failure of both his kidneys. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Pia said the reports were “incorrect”.

“All the information and material online is wrong,” she was quoted as saying. When quizzed further if the director was hale and hearty, his daughter replied, “It is none of your business right now. He will be hale and hearty in a few days. Doctors are coming to the house, he is getting dialysis at home, that he is so ill that he cannot go to the hospital, all are incorrect information,” she added.

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When asked if Shyam Benegal is in touch with the doctors, Pia replied, “There’s nothing that I can tell you now. He shall be back in the office in sometime. Yeah (he is fine), as fine as he can be. He just needs a break. At the age of 88, it is time to retire, don’t you think? You shall hear more updates soon.”

Benegal is considered a pioneer of the Indian parallel cinema movement having helmed classics such as Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Bhumika (1977), Junoon (1978) and Mandi (1983).

The filmmaker recently directed Mujib – The Making of a Nation, a Bangladeshi Indian biographical film about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh and later its prime minister who was assassinated with most of his family in 1975. The film is awaiting a release.

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