No change in condition of Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Mumbai, June 9 (UNI) The condition of Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who was admitted to the Leelavati hospital here last week, continues to remain critical but stable.

Hospital sources said the 83-year-old filmmaker was responding to the treatment. "He is better since the time he was admitted.

However, he continues to be critical and is on ventilator," they added.

Since the news of Mukherjee's illness broke out, there has been a stream of visitors including Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Gulzar, Madhur Bhandarkar, Anupam Kher.

It were Mukherjee's films like Anand, Namak Haram, Mili, Guddi, Abhiman, Chupke Chupke, Anupama which brought the best of acting talents of Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra to the fore.

The legendary filmmaker is suffering from pneumonia. Hrishida, as he is fondly called, was detected with chronic failure last year and has been undergoing dialysis since then. However, last week he developed respiratory complications after the dialysis and was admitted in serious condition.

A multi-faceted personality, Mukherjee has been an ace editor, writer, director and producer during the peak of his career. He came to Mumbai in 1951 and joined Bimal Roy as an assistant. Later, he won the President's medal for 'Anuradha'.

Some of his best known works include 'Guddi', 'Namak Haram', 'Milee', 'Golmaa', 'Chupke Chupke', 'Khoobsurat', 'Asli Naqli', 'Ashirwad' and 'Anand'.

He had also been the chairman of Central Board of Film Certification and National Film Development Corporation.

UNI MR PM AK VV1640