Yesteryears Bollywood star Joy Mukherjee, who was hospitalized here following a heart attack and lung failure, was stabilizing, doctors said Friday.

Joy, 66, was first taken to Jewel Hospital in Irla in west Mumbai Thursday morning but later transferred to Lilavati Hospital, Bandra.

"Joy was admitted with chronic obstructive lung disease. He had respiratory failure but is fully conscious, well-oriented and stable," a hospital official said.

Joy will be under observation and in the intensive care unit for three to four days.

"He is much better than he was Thursday when he suffered multiple organ failure and his body was under a lot of stress," Jayant Barve, the doctor in charge of the case, said.

Joy was a popular heartthrob of Hindi films in the 1960s, with his bright eyes, ready smile and gelled hair. He enjoyed a huge fan following.

His team-up with music composer O.P. Nayyar and playback singer Mohammed Rafi saw many successful films like "Ek Musafir, Ek Hasina" (1962) and "Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon" (1963).

His very first film, "Love in Simla" (1960), catapulted him to stardom. At the time, Joy was in his final year of graduation.

In 1968, he tried his hand at production with "Humsaya", but the film did not do well.

He also directed "Love in Bombay" (1974), "Chhaila Babu" (1977), "Saanjh Ki Bela" (1981) and "Umeed" (1989).

Actresses Kajol and Rani Mukherjee are his nieces.