Bhanu Athaiya, India's first Oscar winner, died at her home after a prolonged illness on Thursday. She was 91.
Ms. Athaiya won an Oscar for her work in the 1983 epic film Gandhi. The last rites took place at the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Mumbai.
"She passed away early this morning. Eight years ago, she was diagnosed with a tumour in her brain. For the last three years, she was bedridden because one side was paralysed," her daughter Radhika Gupta said.
Born in Kolhapur, Athaiya began her career as a costume designer with Guru Dutt's 1956 film, CID. She won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, with Ben Kingsley as the Mahatma, along with John Mollo. Several Bollywood personalities have mourned the passing away of Bhanu Athaiya.
Ms. Athaiya won an Oscar for her work in the 1983 epic film Gandhi. The last rites took place at the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Mumbai.
"She passed away early this morning. Eight years ago, she was diagnosed with a tumour in her brain. For the last three years, she was bedridden because one side was paralysed," her daughter Radhika Gupta said.
Born in Kolhapur, Athaiya began her career as a costume designer with Guru Dutt's 1956 film, CID. She won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, with Ben Kingsley as the Mahatma, along with John Mollo. Several Bollywood personalities have mourned the passing away of Bhanu Athaiya.