Veteran Actress & Singer Sulakshana Pandit dies aged 71

On November 6, 2025, Sulakshana Pandit, a veteran Bollywood actress and singer, died of a prolonged illness. She was 71 years old.

Sulakshana was the older sister of the famous composer duo, Jatin–Lalit, who are famous for the soundtracks of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).

She began her career in the 1970s, making her acting debut in Uljhan (1975), opposite Sanjeev Kumar.

During her heyday, she starred alongside top heroes including Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, and Vinod Khanna.

As a singer, she worked with composers such as Shankar–Jaikishan, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Usha Khanna, and Rajesh Roshan.

For her rendition of ‘Tu Hi Sagar Tu Hi Kinara‘, Sulakshana Pandit won the 1976 Filmfare ‘Best Female Playback Singer’ award.

The song was from Sankalp (1975), composed by Mohammad Zahur Khayyam, who had worked on films including Kabhi Kabhie (1976) and Trishul (1978).

Sulakshana also sang with legends, including Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar.

Confirming her death, Lalit Pandit said: “She passed away around 8 pm. She suffered cardiac arrest. Her funeral will be on November 7.”

In her personal life, Sulakshana fell in love with Sanjeev Kumar, who turned down her marriage proposal.

Following this, she remained unmarried all her life.

In a strange coincidence, Sulakshana Pandit died exactly 40 years after Sanjeev passed away on November 6, 1985.

Talking about her feelings for Sanjeev, the actress had said:

“Sanjeev Ji and I shared a lot in common. He was a Cancerian like me and also a very emotional person.

“Together, we worked in a lot of films — Waqt Ki Deewaar, Chehre Pe Chehra, Uljhan, Apnapan.

“We acted in seven films. Sanjeev Ji was basically a lonely man. He was destined not to marry.

“I firmly believe that mar­riages are made in heaven, and Sanjeev Ji’s marriage was not destined to be.

“I have never loved anyone as much as I loved him.”

With the rise of newer actresses in the late 1980s, Sulakshana suffered a slump in her career, which was also a result of the emotional pain of Sanjeev Kumar’s passing.

She made her final film appearance opposite Sanjeev in Do Waqt Ki Roti (1988), which was released after his death.

Sulakshana sang her last song in the form of ‘Saagar Kinare Bhi Do Dil Hain Pyaase’.

The song was from Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), which marked Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial debut.

It was composed by her brothers, Jatin–Lalit.