Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, who directed ‘Rudaali, dies

Renowned filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi passed away on Sunday morning at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. She was 64.

Lajmi was suffering from a chronic kidney disease and liver failure.

"She passed away at the (Kokilaben Dhirubhai) Ambani hospital at 4.30 am. She was suffering from a chronic kidney disease and liver failure. She was on dialysis. She has been in and out of the hospital for three years. The last rites will be possibly conducted today," her brother Dev Lajmi said.

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Actress 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.”

Kalpana, daughter of painter Lalita Lajmi and niece of filmmaker Guru Dutt, debuted as an assistant director under the renowned film director Shyam Benegal. She made her directorial debut with the documentary film D.G. Movie Pioneer in 1978.

Lajmi had also penned a book on her companion of 40 years, Bhupen Hazarika. The book 'Bhupen Hazarika - As I Knew Him' was launched in Mumbai on September 8 by Shyam Benegal and Kalpana’s mother, Lalita Lajmi.

The filmmaker, who was hospitalised at that time, could not attend the event as her doctors refused to clear her for a long commute.