Kolkata, Jan 4

Iconic Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, who was put on non-invasive ventilator support after her condition deteriorated Friday night, is better, a doctor said Saturday.

Her oxygen saturation level which had dipped Thursday is now going up, said Abhirup Chakraborty, one of the doctors attending on her.

"She is better now...and she doesn't really need the support. Her vital parameters are normal and her oxygen saturation is going up," Chakraborty told IANS.

Earlier in the day, her actress-granddaughter Raima Sen took to Twitter to relay the news.

"My grandma is better. Thank you for your prayers...Keep praying," Raima tweeted Saturday.

The veteran actress, 82, is undergoing treatment for a chest infection at Belle Vue Clinic since Dec 23. Suchitra was taken to the critical care unit (CCU) after her condition deteriorated Dec 28 night.

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

Suchitra, who is actress Moon Moon Sen's mother, quit acting in 1978. Since her retirement, she meets only a few people including her daughter as well as grand-daughters Raima and Riya Sen.

By:IANS