Lajmi was an independent filmmaker working more on realistic, low-budget films, which are known in India as parallel cinema.

She debuted as a feature film director in 1986 with Ek Pal (A Moment), starring Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Farooq Sheikh.

She made her comeback to cinema in 1993 with the critically acclaimed Rudaali starring Dimple Kapadia.

This time it was Raveena Tandon, who was not as appreciated before, and Lajmi was credited as being the one to explore the hidden talent in her.

(2003) was unnoticed, while her last release and her last film was Chingaari in 2006 that starred Sushmita Sen as a village prostitute.