Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shyam Benegal, Rohit Shetty, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Soni Razdan, Neena Gupta, Indian Film and Television Directors Association… their hearts are in the right place! Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, who has been suffering from cancer since the past three years, has revealed that it is these caring souls who have been helping her with financial and moral support as she struggles with poor health and hospitalisation.

The filmmaker, who is known for her strong women related subjects in films like Rudaali (1993), Ek Pal (1986), and the 2006 Sushmita Sen-starrer Chingaari, had to be rushed to hospital yesterday after her condition took a steep dive. While currently stable, she will be kept under observation for the next 24-48 hours.

Speaking about her setback, Kalpana revealed that her heart rate had dropped and she felt uneasy. She is also a kidney patient and both her kidneys are not functioning properly. As it was her partner (Bhupen Hazarika)’s death anniversary yesterday, she had travelled to Vashi to attend the function organised in his honour. The exertion probably took its toll on her, leaving her weak and requiring her to be admitted to the ICU.

Lajmi has been battling health issues since a long time now, and needs dialysis every week. Helping her out through these difficult times has been a clutch of generous souls, who have been offering financial support to tide over the crisis.

She declares she is overwhelmed by the support she has received from all those who have reached out by coming forward and helping her during her worst times. Calling her medical condition ‘a financially draining and a continuous lifelong process’, she expressed her gratitude to her film fraternity for standing by her through this phase. Most of all, she singles out her mother, brother and filmmaker Shyam Benegal for their constant support.