Suchitra Sen improving steadily from illness

Screen icon Suchitra Sen, who was hospitalised following a chest infection, is improving steadily, much to the relief of legions of her fans.

The reclusive star, who was admitted with chest infection on June 20 in Belle Vue hospital, "is taking normal diet and improving further," sources said.

"The Intravenous therapy has been withdrawn and she is moving inside the room," said the source.

The 79-year-old actress was twice admitted to the same nursing home once in February, 2008 and then on October, 2007.

Sen, who has often been compared to Hollywood star Greta Garbo, has not been seen in public since her retirement from the world of cinema in 70s.

Together with late Bengali megastar Uttam Kumar, Sen had created magic on the screen from the 50s to the late 70s turning out hit after hit.

She did very few films in Hindi and is best remembered for portraying the beautiful but egoistical Paro opposite Dilip Kumar in Bimal Roy's adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic Devdas.

She is also famous for her role of a politician in Gulzar's 1975 movie Aandhi.

Sen has a daughter Moon Moon Sen from her marriage to Dibanath Sen and two granddaughters-- Riya Sen and Raima Sen.