Acclaimed filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi has died after battling kidney cancer since last year. She was 61. Taking to Twitter Soni Razdan, Lajmi’s long-term friend, wrote, “Our dear beloved friend Kalpana Lajmi has gone to a better place. RIP my darling Kalpan. I shall miss you so terribly.”
Actor Huma Qureshi tweeted, “Deeply saddened… at around 4:30 am today morning #KalpanaLajmi passed away .. May she rest in peace.”
Lajmi, who directed films like Rudaali, Chingaari, Ek Pal and Daman was also Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika’s partner till the latter’s death in 2011.
Tributes have poured in for Lajmi on Twitter.
Wow, this is sad news…Knew she had been severly ill for a long time, but still shocked! R.I.P. #KalpanaLajmi https://t.co/Io8P6ret3v
— myluckyerror (@myluckyerror) September 23, 2018
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of #Filmmaker #KalpanaLajmi. May her soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/5mKk69GBVk
— BVFF_Guwahati (@BVFF_Guwahati) September 23, 2018
I will miss her camaraderie, her humor, love for food and passion for film. #KalpanaLajmi
— dev benegal (@benegal) September 23, 2018
It was revealed that Alia Bhatt had been taking care of Lajmi’s bill, which came to Rs 2.5 lakh every week. “Kalpana’s medical bills which comes to around Rs. 2.5 lakh every week for the four dialysis that she undergoes, are borne entirely by Soni Razdan and her daughter Alia Bhatt. Soni is Kalpana’s closest friend and she has been monitoring the funds for Kalpana’s treatment. Every time the bills pile up Soni informs Alia who pays the bills,” Bollywood Hungama had quoted a source as saying.