Film fraternity rallies around ailing Kalpana Lajmi

Kalpana Lajmi, whose Rudaali and Daman bagged Dimple Kapadia and Raveena Tandon National Awards for Best Actress, is presently fighting a spirited battle against a tumour on the kidney. The ailing writer-producer-director continues to present a brave face, thanks to the film fraternity which is not only offering her moral support, but also helping out with much-needed funds.

Talking to Mirror while undergoing dialysis, Kalpana says, "Till the last day of my life, I will have to undergo dialysis three times a week and it doesn't come cheap. But thanks to the generous Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran (Rao), my dialysis bills have been covered for the next six months."

Besides the large-hearted generosity of the couple, what has touched Kalpana to the core is that Aamir came up with the money after just one call from filmmakers, Ashoke Pandit and Vinta Nanda, who, having learnt of her illness, reached out a helping hand. "Aamir is currently in Punjab shooting for his next production, Dangal. I'm hoping to meet him once he is back. Kiran met my mother (artist Lalita Lajmi) at her exhibition last week," she says in a emotion-choked voice.

Another good Samaritan, director Rohit Shetty, who is currently in Hyderabad filming Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale, has contributed Rs 2 lakh, which will help cover other expenses. Ashoke Pandit is hoping to garner more support from the fraternity to set up a corpus fund to help Kalpana tide over the medical crisis till she can work again. Her last film was the Sushmita Sen starrer, Chingaari, in 2006. She has been working on a Hindi-Bengali bilingual biopic on her partner, Assamese singer-composer-poetfilmmaker Bhupen Hazarika. For almost nine years, Kalpana Lajmi's life revolved around the Dadasaheb Phalke awardee.

After Hazarika lost the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he suffered a stroke and two years later, on the verge of a heart attack, had to undergo a bypass surgery. A couple of years after that, he slipped into depression, and died of multi-organ failure on November 5, 2011.

"The long illness took its toll on me, emotionally and financially. Bhupenda was just a regional singer-composer while I am a freelance director of small films. Money doesn't last unless you are able to generate it every year. By the time Bhupenda passed away, I was broke and exhausted," Kalpana admits. A strong woman, she kept falling ill every month...

Cough, cold, fever and stomach ailments. All the tests came out negative and her ailments were attributed to diabetes playing up. In February, she collapsed, and was rushed to a nearby hospital where further tests revealed a cyst on her left kidney.

The doctors weren't concerned but her guru amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, insisted she get an MRI done. Dr.Pankhi Dutta, consultant, hematopathology, at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani, consulted Oncologist, Dr Yuvaraja T.B. He shocked Kalpana with the revelation that she had a malignant tumour.

"The insurance I had taken, covered the operation. The kidney was removed, along with the lymph nodes, so chances of the tumour recurring are minimal. But I will have to undergo tests every three months for the next two years. If the tumour doesn't recur in the next two years, I'm safe," she says.

But the battle isn't over yet. A catheter has been attached but there is the possibility of minor operations to refix the apparatus if it fails. There are several other tests to undergo every week, along with mounting expenses over medicines and injections.

"Treatment at one of the best hospitals in the city is expensive. I don't have the financial resources to fight single-handedly," Kalpana sighs. "I'll get insurance only next year now if I renew my policy. Till then, I need a steady flow of cash. By the grace of God and thanks to friends who love and respect me, I'm able to continue with my treatment."

Written by Sonup Sahadevan
MumbaiUpdated: Oct 7, 2015, 11:25

When asked if she has spoken to Aamir and Rohit, Kalpana Lajmi said,"I haven't been able to speak to Rohit. With Aamir and his wife, Kiran Rao, I have established communication. Kiran Rao knows my mother and they have been old friends since my mother participated in Taare Zameen Par'. "

Veteran filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, who is suffering from malignant tumour in her left kidney, is overwhelmed to see the love and affection pouring in from all quarters. Big titans of the industry like Aamir Khan and Rohit Shetty have come together to help the critically acclaimed director in getting the best medical help possible. And the deluge of help offered has left Lajmi overwhelmed.

Speaking to Indian Express, Lajmi said, "This whole movement was initiated by Ashoke Pandit and Vinita Nanda. Earlier I was embarrassed to take help. But they told me that Aamir and Rohit Shetty had come forward and have taken care of the next six months. It makes you feel that your work's worth has been respected. I feel very respected and wanted now."

When asked if she has spoken to Aamir and Rohit, Lajmi said,"I haven't been able to speak to Rohit. With Aamir and his wife, Kiran Rao, I have established communication. Kiran Rao knows my mother and they have been old friends since my mother participated in Taare Zameen Par'. "

Kalpana who was also Assamese maestro Bhupen Hazarika's partner for over 40 years said that work on the legendary singer-composer's biopic is on. Shared Lajmi, "I am collaborating with Prem Soni on Dada's biopic. I have two actors in mind to play Dada. Among the senior lot, Ajay Devgn and among the new ones it is Ranveer Singh. Both are top notch actors and I feel either of them can come closest to the spirit of Dada and embody him well on screen."

Kalpana Lajmi also expressed her gratitude for Asam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who helped her out financially for her treatment. "Tarunji bailed out Dada and he has now sent me one lakh rupees. There was no need to help me because Bhupendra was the son of soil and not me. Yet the decency that he gave me by virtue of me being with Dada makes me feel truly touched. I have promised to treat him to lunch whenever he comes here." (Read the full story here)

Meanwhile, Lajmi's saviour Ashoke Pandit was modesty personified downplaying his efforts as something that anyone in his place would have done.

"I learnt about Kalpanaji's situation about ome and half months back. I and Vinita Nanda analysed it and figured that she needed help immediately. I then messages two people, Rohit Shetty and Aamir Khan. Both agreed to help immediately. While Rohit sent a cheque of two lakhs, Aamir gave six lakhs," said Ashoke Pandit.

Lauding the industry for standing by their own ones in such trying times, Ashoke said," When you are not well and you have financial issues, you get into depression. I went all out and whenever I have gone out with open hands,our industry has helped me."

I hope Kalpana's health improves. Best wishes to her.