Thursday, May 26 2005 17:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Eminent India-born director Ismail Merchant, who passed away at a hospital in London, would be buried in Mumbai, his family said in London today (May 26, 2005).

"His body will be taken to Mumbai, his birth place, in a couple of days for burial," Merchant's brother-in-law Waheed Chauhan said.

The 68-year-old veteran producer-director died at the Queen Elizabeth hospital here yesterday (May 25, 2005) of ulcer burst in the abdomen. Merchant had been reportedly suffering from stomach ailments for the last few days.

He had recently undergone a surgery for abdominal ulcers.

Born in Bombay on December 25, 1936, Merchant has lived and worked for most of his life in the West, completing his education at New York University where he earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Merchant in partnership with American producer James Ivory had made blockbusters like "A Room With a View," and "Howards End".

Merchant and Ivory, an American, made some 40 films together, including "A Room With a View," "Howards End", both based on P M Forster's novel, "Heat and Dust" starring Shashi Kapoor and "The Remains of the Day".

"The Mystic Masseur", based on the novel by Nobel laureate V S Naipaul, is Merchant's latest work as Director and was released in 2002.

Merchant made an impressive debut with "In Custody", based on a novel by Anita Desai, and starring Shashi Kapoor, which won Indian National Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Costume and Best Production Design.