Kalpana Lajmi is just back from the ICU of Kokilaben
Ambani Hospital (Andheri) and can barely, barely talk. But she picked up my
call, an hour ago and said: Hello. I thought I was speaking to someone other
than the National award filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, but I was wrong. She said,
"This is Kalpana, tell me."
I thought I had lost words, but managed to pick up the
conversation and learn that she has gone frail and even her voice has changed.
Was it slurred? I don't know. But it was definitely not the same. Actually, her
voice had changed to an extent soon after her dialysis began, but this time the
change was more pronounced
Kalpana Lajmi
Well, the health update on Lajmi is not good. 15 days
ago, she was again admitted to Kokilaben Ambani Hospital. We know she has been
on dialysis since more than 7-8 months, but this time she had a severe urinary
tract infection which required a surgical procedure to be conducted if that
infection had to be stopped from reaching the kidneys. Said Lajmi, "My
dialysis is a different issue. This urinary tract is a different problem; I just
don't know how I got it."
Lajmi's recent stay in the hospital stretched to nearly a
week. She was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and one of her close friends
tells us, "15 days ago, Lajmi was serious," and then adds,
"Thank God she is back home to fight hard again."
We had spoken to Lajmi in November 2017 while she was in the hospital. We reproduce that interview below:
Can I speak to Kalpanaji?
Is this Devashish?
No, this is Vickey Lalwani. Can I talk to Kalpanaji?
This is Kalpana, Who's calling?
Ma'am, this is Vickey Lalwani.
Yes, Vickey. Tell me, how have you been?
Well, I am fine ma'am. How are you? There is talk that you are down with cancer
in the kidneys..
That's not true. I was detected with cancer in the kidneys 3 years ago, but it
was removed. However, both my kidneys are not functioning now.
Dialysis?
Yes, four times every week.
That must be terribly painful?
What to do? Life is like that.
Your voice has completely changed, I thought I was talking to someone else...
It hasn't changed; it has gone weak.
The medical bills must be enormous...
Yes, but Aamir
Khan, Salman Khan, Karan
Johar, Rohit Shetty, Mahesh Bhatt, Alia Bhatt,
Soni Razdan, Ashoke Pandit, Neena Gupta, Vinta Nanda, Amit Khanna and Shyam
Benegal have been doing a lot for me. They are pooling the money required for
my treatment.
What happened suddenly that you had to be rushed to the hospital?
Well, I got up on Sunday and felt very weak. I knew my potassium
levels must have dropped. I asked my driver to take me to the Emergency Room in
Kokila Ambani Hospital. As we speak, my treatment is on.
Coming back to Bollywood. Have the personalities mentioned above met you
personally?
Not all. Aamir and Kiran Rao had come along. Salman has been contributing
through his Being Human. Soni Razdan is the fulcrum, I think it is mostly
routed through her. I need about Rs 2.5 lakh per month. God bless these
people. And of course, how can I forget my mother and brother who have
constantly stood by my side?
How did your health problem begin?
I contracted diabetes, which we know is a killer. I should have looked after
myself, but had no time. Bhupenda was unwell and he meant everything to me, I
was looking after him all the time. Diabetes led to kidney problem and...
(trails off).
Food restrictions?
Well, I have a cook, so it's not difficult to manage that part. But I have to
eat mainly dahi, chaas and vegetables. I definitely can't eat everything.
Caretaker bhi hai, driver bhi hai.
I miss being in the centre and making movies. Hope that I get back. I am very
lonely. 
Ashoke Pandit And Neena Gupta
Do you step out sometimes?
No, only for dialysis. Once in a way, rarely, I step out to chill with my
school/college friends, and sometimes with my industry friends.
Anybody from Bhupenda's family has come forward?
No, not yet. I am in touch but with only one of my sister-in-law. Otherwise, I
am not in touch with them after Bhupenda passed away.
You loved Bhupenda so much and his family...
(Interrupts) Yeah, but what to do? Life is like that too. Those whom you don't
know come forward to give you a helping hand and those whom you know don't even
bother to call and talk to you.