India's first Oscar winner Bhanu Athaiya dies; MP CM Shivraj Chouhan pays condolences

Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, India’s first Oscar winner, died at her home on Thursday after prolonged illness, her daughter said. She was 91. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bollywood director Anubhav Sinha too to ir Twitter handles to pay respects.

"Rest in Power Bhanu. It was a privilege working with you," wrote Sinha. Athaiya, who won an Oscar for her work in 1983 film “Gandhi”, passed away peacefully in her sleep, her daughter Radhika Gupta told PTI.  

last rites took place at Chandanwadi crematorium in South Mumbai. "She passed away early this morning. Eight years ago, she was diagsed with a tumour in her brain. For last three years, she was bedridden because one side (of her body) was paralysed,” her daughter said.

Athaiya, who was born in Kolhapur, began her career as a costume designer in Hindi cinema with Guru Dutt''s 1956 superhit "C.I.D.".

She won Academy Award for Best Costume Design in Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi” along with John Mollo.

In 2012, Athaiya returned her Oscar to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for safe-keeping. In an interview to PTI, she had said. “I have wanted this for some time. I want to thank Academy for helping me. Many Oscar winners in past have returned ir Oscars for safe keeping. It is a tradition with Academy."

In a career spanning five decades and over 100 films, she won two National Awards -- for Gulzar''s mystery drama "Lekin" (1990) and period film "Lagaan" directed by Ashutosh Gowariker (2001).

(With PTI inputs)