MUMBAI:

Veteran director Hrishikesh Mukherjee has been admitted to hospital. His condition is reported to be serious. Mukherjee, 83, has been suffering from chronic renal failure for the past few months and was admitted to Lilavati Hospital on June 4 for pneumonia and sepsis.

According to hospital officials, the reputed director was kept on ventilator since his admission and he is responding to treatment. However, doctors describe his condition is serious. “Particularly because of his age his condition could be said to be ‘serious’. But he is responding to treatment,” a hospital spokesperson said.

The maverick director’s oeuvre has a worthwhile collection — he made classics like Anari (1959), Anuradha (1960), Anand (1970), Abhimaan (1973) and Golmaal (1979). “Anuradha” starring Balraj Sahni and Leela Naidu won the president’s gold medal.

He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and in 2001, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.