India’s first Oscar winner and costume designer Bhanu Athaiya died at her home on Thursday after prolonged illness. Her daughter gave this information.
Athaiya was 91 years old. She received the Oscar Award in 1983 for her outstanding work in the film ‘Gandhi’.
Her daughter Radhika Gupta told PTI, “She died this morning. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor eight years ago. For the last three years, she was in bed as a part of her body was paralyzed. “
Bhanu was born in Kolhapur and started her costume designer career in 1956 with Legendary Director Gurudutt’s superhit film CID. She has worked with many of Bollywood’s best directors.
Bhanu Athaiya worked in more than 100 films as a costume designer. She started her career in 1956 with Dev Anand’s film CID. After this, she designed the costumes of films like Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa, Chaudhvi Ka Chand and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam in Hindi cinema’s Gold Era.
Bhanu has worked as a costume designer in many of the best films. Some media reports stated that she had expressed her desire to return his Academy Award in 2012. SHe feared the family would not be able to take care of her trophy after her death. On 15 December 2012, it was confirmed that she had returned her trophy to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
