Veteran Bollywood director Hrishikesh Mukherjee was in a "slightly better" condition although his health status remained "serious yet stable", doctors attending the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner said Thursday.

Mukherjee, 83, was "slightly better and he was responding a little better to treatment". "He was more conscious and his infection level was slightly lower," said Vaishali Rajpare, a spokesperson of Lilavati Hospital, where he was admitted on Saturday.

"His vital parameters are stable and he is fully conscious, but his condition remains serious. It is too early to give any positive report on his health," she said.

Mukherjee, who has been suffering from chronic renal failure for the past many months, continues to be on ventilator. He was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia and sepsis.

The Padma Bhushan awardee, fondly called Hrishida, has crafted masterpieces like "Anand", "Abhimaan" and "Anuradha" and boosted the careers of several stars including Rajesh Khanna ("Anand", "Bawarchi"), Amitabh Bachchan ("Abhimaan", "Mili", "Anand") and Jaya Bhaduri ("Guddi", "Mili", "Bawarchi").

Not many from the film fraternity have cared to visit him at the hospital.

Mukherjee has been undergoing dialysis four times a week at the hospital for the past many years.