ट्रिविया

Second cousin once removed of Guru Dutt. His paternal grandmother and Dutt's maternal grandmother were cousins.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 88-93. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

Over his illustrious career, the filmmaker earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in the field of cinema, and an impressive 18 National Film Awards.

When he was twelve years old, he made his first film, on a camera given to him by his photographer father Sridhar B. Benegal.

In 2009 he was a member of the jury at the 31st Moscow International Film Festival.

Between 1966 and 1973, Shyam taught at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and twice served as the institute's chairman: 1980-83 and 1989-92.

He was awarded the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Starting his career as a copywriter, he made his first documentary in Gujarati, Gher Betha Ganga (Ganges at the Doorstep), in 1962.