Raima Sen (left) joined the shooting for Mainak Bhaumik’s Kolkata Calling on Sunday after the condition of grandmother Suchitra (right) improved. Picture by Pabitra Das

Suchitra Sen’s condition improved on Sunday with her chest infection being “under control” but she continued to be in the ITU “in a critical condition”, doctors said.

The 82-year-old, who was admitted to Belle Vue Clinic on December 23 with acute chest infection, needed less ventilation support on Sunday.

“Suchitra Sen’s medical condition continues to be stable. She has partially responded to intermittent non-invasive ventilation and her oxygen saturation has improved compared to the previous days. However, her oxygen saturation needs continuous monitoring. She remains conscious but a little weak,” read a medical bulletin issued by Belle Vue at 1pm on Sunday.

Sen was also alert enough to ask grand-daughter Raima Sen about her shooting schedule for a film on Sunday.

Raima, who was supposed to start shooting for director Mainak Bhaumik’s Kolkata Calling on Saturday but cancelled the shoot to be by her grandmother’s bedside, got back to work on Sunday.

“I cancelled the shoot on Saturday because I wanted to be with her. But today she is better and so I am shooting,” she told Metro.

“I’d rather be with my grandmother than be shooting. But then, Samrat (Chakrabarti, her co-star in Kolkata Calling) is leaving for America on January 11, so I can’t just keep cancelling,” added Raima.

Suchitra’s elder grand-daughter seemed to be breathing a little easy on Sunday after “the very stressful last few days”.

“My grandmother knows that all three of us (daughter Moon Moon and granddaughters Raima and Riya) are doing this film (Kolkata Calling) and she asked me on Saturday, ‘Aren’t you shooting?’. I said ‘No, I have cancelled it’. Then when I told her I would shoot on Sunday, she asked: ‘Kokhon chharbe (When will they let you go?)’. I said, ‘In two-three hours’.”

Raima would rush back to Belle Vue after the shoot. “I just hope she comes back home fast. She too really wants to come back home. It’s been 15 days…. I am praying that she is back home as soon as possible. That’s all I want now.”

Doctors in Belle Vue were worried over the congestion in her lungs caused by the infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“Blood tests revealed her chest infection is under control. We are now considering taking her off antibiotics,” said critical care expert Subrata Maitra, who is heading the team of doctors treating the screen icon.

Maitra said the non-invasive ventilator — bi-pap — Sen was on over the past two days had led to a rise in her blood oxygen saturation level. She was put on bi-pap once on Saturday night and once again on Sunday morning for 10-15 minutes.

Sources said Sen had tea in the morning, followed by a “light breakfast”, and soft rice and fried fish for lunch.