Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi dies of kidney ailment, aged 64

Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi passed away on Sunday morning after a long battle with kidney cancer. She was 64. Lajmi was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year. Actor Huma Qureshi tweeted early morning that Ms Lajmi died at about 4.30 am.

Lajmi was known for her women oriented, powerhouse films like Rudaali, Chingaari, Ek Pal and Daman. She had directed her last film Chingari with Mithun Chakraborty, Anuj Sawhney and Sushmita Sen in 2006. Her films were said to be a reflection of the times and she was often hailed as one of the forerunners of parallel cinema.

Daughter of painter Lalita Lajmi and niece of filmmaker, Guru Dutt, Kalpana made her debut as an assistant director of veteran film maker Shyam Benegal over three decades ago. She had made her directorial debut with the documentary film DG Movie Pioneer.

She had authored a book on her companion of 40 years, Bhupen Hazarika. Titled 'Bhupen Hazarika - As I Knew Him' was launched in Mumbai on September 8 by Shyam Benegal. The director who was in hospital at time could not be at the launch of her book.

Several actors took to Twitter to pay tributes to her.

Actor Huma Qureshi tweeted early morning that Ms Lajmi died at about 4.30 am. She wrote, “Deeply saddened… at around 4:30 am today morning #KalpanaLajmi passed away .. May she rest in peace.”

Onir a film and TV director, editor, screenwriter and producer also tweeted in remembrance of Kalpana Lajmi.