Sulakshana Pandit, front-ranking actress and playback singer of 1970s Bollywood, passes away at 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.

Tributes from across the film and music fraternity have poured in, celebrating her as “a rare talent who could act with her eyes and sing with her soul.”

Her siblings include music composer duo Jatin and Lalit Pandit, popularly known as Jatin–Lalit, and former Bollywood actor Vijayata Pandit.

Vijayata made her film debut opposite Kumar Gaurav in Love Story (1981), which became a box-office success and made both actors overnight stars.

She later starred opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee in the Bengali film Amar Sangi.

Despite early success, she eventually stepped away from the film industry.

(Photos: YouTube screen-grab)