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Film industry remembers Kalpana Lajmi, who succumbed to kidney cancer

Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi succumbed to her three-year battle with cancer of the kidney, around 4.30 am on Sunday. She is survived by her internationally acclaimed artiste mother Lalitha Lajmi (a sister of the iconic filmmaker Guru Dutt). At the noon cremation, apart from Shabana Azmi, Soni Razdan and veteran director Shyam Benegal and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit not many were present.

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Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi succumbed to her three-year battle with cancer of the kidney, around 4.30 am on Sunday. She is survived by her internationally acclaimed artiste mother Lalitha Lajmi (a sister of the iconic filmmaker Guru Dutt). At the noon cremation, apart from Shabana Azmi, Soni Razdan and veteran director Shyam Benegal and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit not many were present.

Leading filmmaker Benegal who she was also related to (Guru Dutt’s maternal grandmother and Benegal’s paternal grandmothers were sisters) spoke fondly of the wonderful person she was. He told DNA, “She was a very capable filmmaker and brought a rare intensity to her work.” Not many may know that the she had begun work with Benegal on his iconic Bhumika (Smita Patil's debut), where she had styled Patil. “It is a great loss,” lamented Benegal who added, “She did very little about her diabetes which increased her health complications.”

Leading actor-activist Shabana Azmi rembered how Lajmi was known to pick unusual stories. “I enjoyed doing Ek Pal. It was bold of her to make a film so far ahead of its times as her first. Naseer and Farooque were great company and Assam is so beautiful.”

She recounted how she had just got married and left for a 45-day shoot schedule. “Phones were a nightmare and I kept making lightening calls to Javed but could barely connect . It drove me mad that the operator would ask: 'zhed zhed zhed for zhaved?' And Kalpana would try to calm me down by saying this was not the time to give an elocution lesson, but concentrate on getting the connection!”

She remembered how during the making of Shyam Benegal’s Mandi Kalpana who was his assistant director and she struck an easy friendship. “I think it was almost a given that I'd be in her first. We didn't work together after but kept in touch. After a long gap I met her in May on her birthday. Inspite of being considerably weaker due to a prolongued illness, she seemed to be in good spirits and clued in to all that was happening, “ she said adding, “Her mother Lalitha Lajmi has been an amazing caregiver for her daughter and nursed her with tremendous love and always mindful that Kalpana should retain her dignity. A big salaam to her.”

Neena Gupta who along with Soni Razdan was very close to Lajmi told DNA how she has rarely seen anyone so full of life. “Soni, her and me would go out for movies together and even hand out at parties. Despite her health she never allowed that zest for life to be affected and passionately spoke of scripts and films she wanted to make. Unfortunately that will now not be...”

Razdan took twitter to voice her pain: “I will miss her strong energetic voice, her indefatigable drive to create, her laughter that was always so full of real joy and her wonderful sense of humour. Most of all I will miss my movie partner. Can't believe you’re gone Kalpana. RIP sweetheart.” 

Like Kalpana cut her teeth on Benegal's Bhumika in 1977, national awardee Onir had cut his teeth on Lajmi's Daman which came two decades later. “I had only worked in the tv space and felt a little nervous on the sets initially. Both Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Suri were big stars and I didn't know them. But she generously made me direct all the songs without a choreographer. In fact, after a point she began telling me to direct a few scenes too. That kind of generosity is rare to come by.”

Pandit explained the poor turnout for the noon creamtion. “She was so respected that the industry would've turned up in huge numbers. But by the time people got to know, the cremation was over. On the chautha on Monday we expect a huge turnout,” said Pandit. “She was emotionally distraught after BhupenDa passed away and was financially in a mess.While the initial deposit was made by Madhur Bhandarkar, Rohit Shetty and Anupam Kher and me to start her dialysis once Aamir Khan and Kiran heard of her illness they took the entire responsibility. Alia Bhatt too has made her own contribution to the treatment.” An emotional Pandit who is close to the Lajmi family said: “She was so vivacious and full of energy that however low you felt, she could make you snap out of it.”

After actor Dimple bagged a national award for Rudali, her next Daman saw Raveen Tandon (who was until then known only for her mainstream outings on the big screen) too bag one. The latter took to twitter “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.”

One of India's most respected woman filmmakers Aruna Raje pointed how the duo were close as they were both working in what is largely a male world. “I wish she had been more prolific and we got to see some of the brilliance that shines through in her films. It’s truly a great loss.”

 

 

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