Sulakshana Pandit Dies at 71: Bollywood Mourns the Loss of a 70s Icon
Mumbai, November 6, 2025:
Legendary Bollywood singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit passed away today at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness. The news of her demise has left the film and music industry in deep sorrow.
A Glorious Career in Music and Cinema
Born on July 12, 1954in Raigarh, ChhattisgarhSulakshana Pandit started her musical journey at a young age. She recorded her first playback song in 1967and soon became one of the most recognized voices of Indian cinema. Her duet with Lata Mangeshkar, “Saat Samandar Paar Se” from Taqdeer (1967)became a chartbuster and earned her wide acclaim.
In 1976she was honored with the Filmfare Award for the soulful track “You are the ocean and you are the shore.” from Sankalp,
Rise as an Actress
After her success as a singer, Sulakshana made her acting debut in 1975 with Uljhan against Sanjeev KumarHer elegant looks and expressive acting quickly made her a popular face in Hindi cinema,
She went on to feature in several hit films such as Hera Pheri, Apnapan, Khandaan,and wall of timesharing the screen with top stars like Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Vinod Khanna, Shashi Kapoor,and Shatrughan Sinha,
The Unfulfilled Love Story
While her professional life shone brightly, Sulakshana’s personal life was shadowed by heartbreak. She was deeply in love with Sanjeev Kumarher Uljhan co-star, but he could not reciprocate her feelings as his heart belonged to Hema Malini,
After Sanjeev Kumar’s death in 1985Sulakshana withdrew from the film industry and chose to live a quiet, reclusive life. In a striking coincidence, both Sanjeev Kumar and Sulakshana Pandit passed away on November 6 — exactly 40 years apart.
Remembering the Legend
Fans and fellow artists have taken to social media to express their grief and pay tribute to the veteran artist who contributed immensely to Bollywood’s golden era.
Sulakshana Pandit will always be remembered for her melodious voice, timeless performances, and the grace she brought to the Indian film industry.
May her soul rest in peace.
