New Delhi: On Saturday, several reports of National Award filmmaker Shyam Benegal undergoing dialysis due to kidney failure were doing the rounds. The filmmaker’s daughter Pia Benegal has rubbished all the reports and called the information ‘incorrect.’
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, she said, “All the information and material online is wrong.” When asked if the director was hale and hearty, she 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 was quoted as saying.
When probed if he is in touch with doctors, Pia said, “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?”
She also said that the family will give update soon. “You shall hear more updates soon,” she was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Many reports on Saturday claimed that the director has not been keeping well for a while now and has been advised to rest at home. He is undergoing dialysis at home because of medical failure and is under medical observation. It was reported that the director hasn’t been able to even visit his office in recent days.
A noted filmmaker, Shyam Benegal has won eight National Awards in his career for Ankur (1974), which marked the debut of Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag, Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Bhumika: The Role (1977), Junoon (1978), Arohan (1982), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004) and Well Done Abba (2010).