Shabana Azmi wishes 'guru' Shyam Benegal on 80th birthday

Calling Shyam Benegal her 'reluctant guru', veteran actress Shabana Azmi has wished the National-award winning filmmaker on his 80th birthday. Azmi said the 'Ankur' director has influenced her career choices in a big way.

"Happy birthday to my guru mentor Shyam Benegal. Thank you for being you-warm generous friend and trailblazer of parallel cinema plus foodie. "Have always called Shyam Benegal my reluctant Guru. He has in every way shaped my choices but is shy to accept it and prefers to be my friend," Azmi, 64, posted on Twitter.

Have always called #Shyam Benegal my reluctant Guru.He has in every way shaped my choices but is shy 2 accept it and prefers to be my friend

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) December 14, 2014

Azmi and Benegal started their career together in Bollywood with 1974's highly-acclaimed film 'Ankur', which saw the actress playing the lead role in his directorial debut. Azmi also won her first National award for the film.

The director-actress duo then worked together in 'Nishant', 'Junoon', 'Mandi', 'Antamaad' and 'Hari-Bhari'. Benegal's last directional venture was 2009 political satire 'Well Done Abba'.