The actress who made Shammi Kapoor sing 'Khuli palak mein jhoota gussa' loses a long battle with cancer
Yesteryear actress Kalpana Mohan passed away on the morning of January 4 at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre. The 65-year-old, who charmed audiences with her youthful features and tip-tilted eyes in movies such as Professor and Teen Deviyan, had been battling cancer for five years, and was being treated at Ruby Hall Clinic.
She was admitted in hospital on December 3 following a pneumonia attack. She was discharged on December 13 and taken home, but re-admitted two hours later, after she suffered convulsions on the left side of her body.
She was put on a ventilator and was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 15 days. Kalpana's daughter Preeti Mansukhani and son-in-law Harish were at her side through the ordeal. Her final rites were performed at the Vaikunth crematorium amidst family and close friends.
Harish said that the family had kept Kalpana's death under wraps. "We didn't want to talk about her death as we knew that many people had their eye on her property," Harish said.
Kalpana was in the news recently when she filed a complaint at the Khadak Police Station in Pune, claiming that three people had forged her signature to make a fake memorandum of understanding (MoU), and then sold the 56.18 hectare plot she owned in Mauje Visagar village to Sahara City builders in 2007. Harish said that Kalpana had been anxious and tense ever since, and the episode had left her very weak.
"However, now we know that the police have arrested those she complained against, and the matter is sub-judice," added Harish.
Remembering Kalpana as a spirited, straight-spoken person, Harish said, "I remember when Preeti and I had just started dating. She came to my house and asked me what my intentions were - if I was going to marry her daughter. She was always very protective of Preeti."
Preeti remembers her mother fondly. 'She was always so brave.
She raised me alone and made sure I got the best education possible. She was a self-made woman and was proud of it."
Kalpana had a brief but successful stint in Bollywood in the 60s and 70s, starring with actors like Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor, but stopped after she got married. Later, she moved to Kalyani Nagar, in the eastern region on Pune, and spent her remaining years there.

Kalpana Mohan was born in Srinagar on July 18, 1946. Her father, Avani Mohan, a freedom fighter, was close to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and an active member of the All India Congress Committee. Kalpana, who trained in Kathak, was often invited by Nehru to dance at the Rashtrapati Bhavan whenever dignitaries visited.
She was spotted by actor Balraj Sahani and Urdu writer Ismat Chughtai, who encouraged her to come to Mumbai. Kalpana got her first break in the movie Professor in 1962.
In 1967, she married a navy officer, but divorced him in 1972.
She continued to live in Mumbai for a while but stopped acting, allegedly, depressed over the divorce.
Kalpana moved to Pune about 20 years ago when her health started deteriorating as doctors prescribed a change of climate.

Legendary music composer Anthony Gonsalves, the inspiration behind the song 'My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves' from 'Amar Akbar Anthony', died at a hospital here after a bout of pneumonia, family sources said on Wednesday.
The end came last night at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, where he was admitted and undergoing treatment. He was 84.
Gonsalves, who orchestrated music for several Hindi songs during the 50s and 60s, contributed to hit films like 'Mahal', 'Naya Daur' and 'Dillagi' among others.
The veteran musician was named as one of India's finest violinists in his time and worked with legends like S D Burman and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
He left for Mumbai in 1943 as a child, when he played violin at the church in his village. Gonsalves later made a name for himself after he orchestrated music for songs like 'Jyoti Kalash Zhalke'. His musical arrangements in 'Hum aapki aankhon mein' in 'Pyaasa' and 'Ayega aaane wala' in 'Mahal' are considered among his best works.
Gonsalves, who taught Pyarelal violin, became a household name after the musician dedicated the song to his real life 'guru' in 1977 release 'Amar Akbar Anthony'. The song was picturised on Amitabh Bachchan.
He returned to his native place in Majorda in South Goa in 1983 and lived a life away from glory.
His last rites would be conducted on Thursday as the family is awaiting the arrival of his son, based in UK. He is survived by his daughter Laxmi, who is a painter by profession.

Filmmaker Raj Kanwar dead

Source IANS
Last Updated: Fri, Feb 03, 2012 18:31 hrs

Producer-director Raj Kanwar, known for hits like "Deewana" and "Andaaz", passed away Friday in Singapore, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan tweeted.

"My friend Raj Kanwarji passed away. The impermanence of life, makes one feel so helpless. May his soul rest in peace. Aisi Deewangi..miss u sir," the superstar tweeted.

Filmmaker Bhushan Kumar, too, confirmed the news, saying: "Yes, it is true that Raj Kanwar is no more. I am really sad about it."

Kanwar, who was in his early 50s, had gone to Singapore for a kidney transplant but he died before the surgery, trade analyst Komal Nahta posted on his website.

Kanwar was the one who gave Shah Rukh and Priyanka Chopra their first big breaks in the film industry with "Deewana" and "Andaaz" respectively. He also directed "Judaai", "Jeet", "Badal" and "Laadla".

His last film was "Sadiyaan" starring Rishi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Rekha. It was also the launch pad for Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv as an actor.

Acclaimed lyricist Shahryar of Umraao Jaan fame, 75, died of lung cancer last night at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Born at Aonla Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, he belonged to a Muslim Rajput family. Shahryar retired as chairman of the Urdu Department at the Aligarh Muslim University. Later, he used to co-edit the literary magazine Sher-o-Hikmat.
Originally christened Akhlaq Mohammed Khan, he was recognised for his lyrics in Muzaffar Ali's films like Gaman (1978), Umrao Jaan (1981) and Anjuman (1986).
His last lyrics were for Mira Nair's critically acclaimed The Namesake (2006). In 1987, he was rewarded with the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu for Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai (1987). He was the fourth Urdu writer to win the Jnanpith Award in 2008.