Kalpana Lajmi Very Unwell, Her Voice Has Changed, Undergoes Surgery To Survive...

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.