Suchitra Sen weak, responding to treatment

The condition of iconic Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, who was put on non-invasive ventilator support after her condition deteriorated Friday night, is stable and "partially responding" to the intermittent ventilation, a medical bulletin said Sunday.

The condition of iconic Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, who was put on non-invasive ventilator support after her condition deteriorated Friday night, is stable and "partially responding" to the intermittent ventilation, a medical bulletin said Sunday.

Though her oxygen saturation has improved since Friday, it still needs "continuous monitoring," said the report.

"She remains conscious but little weak," said the release.

"Her other vital parameters like heart rate and blood pressure are stable," said Subir Mondal, member of the team of experts monitoring Suchitra at the Belle Vue Clinic here.

Suchitra's breathing problem worsened Friday, leading to dipping of her oxygen saturation and, thus, necessitating the ventilator support. Though her condition stabilised the following day, owing to the continuously fluctuating oxygen saturation, she was put on intermittent non-invasive ventilation.

The 82-year-old has been on nasal oxygen (through a flexible plastic tube) at her residence for the last few years.

"She still needs that nasal oxygen, but the non-invasive form (via oro-facial masks) is not needed at the moment," said Mondal.

She is receiving chest physiotherapy and her health condition has been reviewed by two chest specialists.

She is known for her performances in films like Deep Jwele Jaai and Uttar Falguni in Bengali as well as Hindi movies such as Devdas, Bombai Ka Babu and Mamta. She won the best actress award for Saat Paake Bandha at the Moscow Film Festival in 1963.

The mother of actress Moon Moon Sen quit acting in 1978. Since her retirement, she meets only a few people, including her daughter as well as granddaughters Raima and Riya Sen.