Acclaimed filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi passed away on the morning of September 23 after a long battle with kidney cancer. She was 64 and breathed her last at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital in Mumbai, where she was admitted in the intensive care unit for the treatment. And now much to our dismay, recent reports suggest that Kalpana almost had no money before her death since she had been undergoing dialysis three-four times a week for a couple of years.

It is said that the illness had not only put a strain on her physically but had put her in a financial crisis as well and was surviving with the support of a few industry folks. In fact, in her last interview with a news agency, she had revealed that Bollywood celebrities like Aamir Khan, Rohit Shetty, Salman Khan and her closest friends, Neena Gupta, Soni Razdan have kept her going.

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However, the void that she has left in the film industry with her death, once again sheds light on the lack of funds for the ailing members of the cinematic world. Like veteran actresses Meena Kumari and Parveen Babi or Tamil-Telugu superstar Savitri, Kalpana too had little hope of recovery and no financial aid to pay for the hefty hospital bills. If Kalpana, who was the niece of legendary filmmakers Guru Dutt and Shyam Benegal and business partner of Bhupen Hazarika, greeted death in this way, we wonder what will happen to the other forgotten gems of Bollywood?

For the unversed, Kalpana was best known for making films such as Rudaali and Chingaari.