Sulakshana Pandit, one of the front-ranking actresses and playback singers of 1970s Bollywood known for her graceful screen presence and soulful voice, passed away in Mumbai on Thursday night after a prolonged illness. She was 71.
Family sources said Pandit breathed her last at Nanavati Hospital, where she had been undergoing treatment for some time.
Her funeral will be held in Mumbai, with members of her illustrious musical family — including composer brothers Jatin–Lalit — expected to attend.
Belonging to a lineage of great musicians — she was the niece of Pandit Jasraj — Sulakshana Pandit straddled both acting and singing with rare distinction.
In an era dominated by glamour and melody, she carved out a niche as a leading lady of emotional depth and a singer of classical refinement.
As an actress, she starred opposite some of the biggest names of the decade — Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, and Shashi Kapoor — in memorable films like Uljhan (1975), Sankoch (1976), and Khandaan (1979).
Her voice gave Hindi cinema several gems, including “Tu Hi Sagar Hai, Tu Hi Kinara” from Sankalp (1975), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
She collaborated with maestros such as R.D. Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal, leaving behind a treasury of romantic and devotional melodies.
Despite a bright start, Sulakshana gradually withdrew from the spotlight in the late 1980s, facing years of ill health and personal hardship. She remained unmarried and was long associated with her unfulfilled affection for actor Sanjeev Kumar, a story that became part of Bollywood lore.
Her siblings include music composer duo Jatin and Lalit Pandit, popularly known as Jatin–Lalit, and former Bollywood actor Vijayata Pandit.
