'Rudaali' director Kalpana Lajmi passes away; Bollywood mourns her death

Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, best known for her films including, Rudaali, Chingaari, Ek Pal and Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence, died on Sunday.

The filmmaker who has made several women oriented films, was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year. 

Since Kalpana was detected with cancer, several stars in the film world, including Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Soni Razdan and Neena Gupta helped her out financially.

Kalpana, at the age of 64, died in Mumbai at about 4.30 am.

The last film she directed was Chingari with Mithun Chakraborty, Anuj Sawhney and Sushmita Sen in 2006.

Persons from the film industry who have been close to her, including Soni Razdan and Huma Qureshi, tweeted their tribute to the award winning director and screenwriter. 

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

Deeply saddened... at around 4:30 am today morning #KalpanaLajmi passed away .. May she rest in peace.

— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) September 23, 2018

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

Kalpana Lajmi made her debut as an assistant director of veteran film maker Shyam Benegal over three decades ago. 

Apart from directing films, Kalpana Lajmi had authored a book on her companion of 40 years, Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika. The book '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.

May her soul rest in peace.