I won my first National Film Award for Best Actress for Daman. It was great to work with her on that film. It tackled topics like domestic violence and caste divide, which was a challenge then. But, Kalpanaji always accepted challenges. I enjoyed working with her, because, as a director, she was not rigid. She welcomed our suggestions at every point. She encouraged us to perform well.

I have learnt a lot from her, one among them being not to fear challenges. Even though making women-oriented movies was a tough task, she was always up for it. She enjoyed the thrill. She liked the intention of making a difference. She was a confident filmmaker, and always believed in what she did. Having faith in your work is a quality one can learn from her.