Suchitra Sen continues to be critical, but stable

Ailing yesteryear actress Suchitra Sen's condition deteriorated on Friday in the afternoon, but stabilised later in the evening, though she was still not out of danger, doctors said.

"Many of you must be worried about her condition. It is true that in the afternoon and evening her condition deteriorated due to drop in oxygen saturation level," Dr Subrata Maitra, the attending doctor at the Belle Vue Clinic told reporters with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee standing beside him.

"The oxygen saturation was increased from 87-88 per cent to 90 per cent. As of now her condition is critical, but stable... But she is not out of danger," Maitra, a critical care specialist, said.

"We are saying stable because her vital organs such as kidney and other parameter such as pulse, blood pressure are working fine," said Maitra.

Stating that the 82-year-old actress was weak, he said, Sen had spoken to the chief minister and her daughter Moon Moon and granddaughter Riya and also expressed a wish to sit in a chair, but which was not allowed given her health condition.

"I also saw her smile," the doctor said.

This was the fourth time the chief minister visited Sen since she was hospitalised on December 23 with a respiratory tract infection. Mamata stayed for over three hours at the hospital before stepping out with Maitra.

Sen, who has shunned the public eye for the last three decades, was the first Indian actress to win the best actress award internationally at the Moscow Film Festival.

She starred in memorable Bengali and Hindi films like 'Saat Paake Bandha', 'Agnipariksha', 'Saptopadi', 'Deep Jele Jai', 'Devdas' and 'Aandhi'.