Veteran actor Hangal struggling to pay for his medication

The 95-year-old actor lives with his son Vijay (74), a photographer, in suburban Mumbai and requires at least Rs 15,000 per month for treatment of his age-related ailments.

"Medicines are very expensive. And this is a recurring expense. In 2009, my father was hospitalised for a month, but after that, he has being treated at home," Vijay told PTI.
"My father is bed-ridden but he walks with the help of a walker to the bath room. There is an attendant to take care of him 24 hours," he said.

"Every month there are expenses that we cannot handle on our own. I too have become old and have a severe back problem. My father stopped working eight years ago due to fragile health and our savings are almost exhausted," he added.

Amey Khopkar, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena film cell, recently visited the actor and his family and has decided to look after his medical expenses henceforth.

Vijay said former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had given him Rs 51,000 last year while the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) had disbursed financial assistance of Rs 50,000 during the same period.

They also received help in individual capacity from noted actress Asha Parekh, he added.
Vijay said he has been advised to write to CINTAA again about his need for aid on a monthly basis.

Avtar Kishan Hangal was born in Sialkot in 1917. After migrating from Pakistan to Mumbai, he  was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi.

Hangal started his Hindi film career at the age of 50 with Basu Bhattacharya's 'Teesri Kasam' in 1966 and went on to play character roles in over 125 films including 'Sholay', and 'Guddi'.