Mumbai: Noted filmmaker and screenwriter Kalpana Lajmi, best known for films like Rudaali, Chingaari, Ek Pal and Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence, passed away on Sunday at the age of 64. She had been suffering from a kidney disease for a while was undergoing medical treatment at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital.
Lajmi was known for making women-oriented films with strong female characters. She was undergoing dialysis at the hospital as a part of her treatment. According to Hospital authorities, she passed away at 4:30 am this morning.
Last year in November, Lajmi was admitted to the hospital due to sudden deterioration in her health conditions. Prior to this, she had been bed-ridden for six months and undergoing dialysis almost every other day. Lajmi’s mother had revealed that the filmmaker had lost one of her kidneys in surgery and the other has been infected.
According to a report published in Quint, her hospital bills amounting to Rs. 2.5 lakhs per month were paid by Indian Films and Television Directors Association, Aamir Khan and Rohit Shetty.
Kalpana Lajmi was the partner of Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika who died in 2011. She had started her cinematic career 25 years ago under the guidance of filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
Expressing grief at Lajmi’s demise, a number of film personalities like Soni Razdan, Raveena Tandon,Onir, Huma Qureshi, filmmaker Dev Benegal and Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Our dear beloved friend Kalpana Lajmi has gone to a better place. RIP my darling Kalpan. I shall miss you so terribly.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) September 23, 2018
You will be missed Kalpanaji.Was not your time to go..but may your heart now be at peace.🙏🏻🕉🙏🏻 . Those days while shooting Daman will be a treasured memory. #KalpanaLajmi Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/mtteS4nAlZ
— Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) September 23, 2018
RIP #KalpanaLajmi . My first exposure to a film shooting was while working as a song director and editor in Daman . Remember many evenings of food and music in her residence along with Bhupen Da. Learned a lot while working with her . pic.twitter.com/DMHI39yxWu
— Onir (@IamOnir) September 23, 2018
Deeply saddened… at around 4:30 am today morning #KalpanaLajmi passed away .. May she rest in peace.
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) September 23, 2018
Sad to hear about the passing of #KalpanaLajmi from @mitrakalita. Kalpana & I worked together as assistants. She was a powerhouse who made men uncomfortable because she stood fiercely for her rights, her point of view & to tell stories her way…
— dev benegal (@benegal) September 23, 2018
Saddened by the demise of renowned filmmaker #KalpanaLajmi.
Through masterpieces like Daman, Rudaali and Darmiyaan, she brought about a paradigm shift in Indian cinema. My condolences to her friends and family in this difficult time.
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) September 23, 2018
The cremation will take place at 12.30 pm at the Oshiwara crematorium in Mumbai. Lajmi is survived by her mother and brother Dev Lajmi.
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