Sulakshana Pandit, veteran actor and playback singer, passed away at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest. She breathed her last when she was being taken to Nanavati Hospital, while complaining of breathlessness in the late hours of Thursday. Brother Lalit Pandir confirmed the unfortunate news to PTI.
Known for classic films like Uljhan and Chehre Pe Chehra, Sulakshana Pandit was a recognised face in Bollywood. Debuted in 1975, she stunned fans with her melodious playback singing and gave the industry songs in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Oriya, and Gujarati.
Who is Sulakshana Pandit?
Born in 1954, Sulakshana Pandit made her debut in Bollywood opposite Sanjeev Kumar in the film Uljhan. She then went on to work with top stars of her era, including Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna. Topping the charts with her soulful voice, Pandit belongs to a family with a rich musical heritage, with both siblings making their name in the music industry. The niece of Pandit Jasraj, Sulakshana, started singing at the age of nine and is survived by her siblings, Jatin, Lalit, and Mandheer.
Some of her notable films include Sankoch, Hera Pheri, Khandaan, Dharam Khanta, Do Waqt Ki Roti, and Gora, among others. Acting in a Bengali film, Bandie in 1978, she starred opposite Uttam Kumar. Her songs are well-known treasure in the cinema industry with hits like Tu Hi Saagar Tu Hi Kinara, Pardesiya Tere Desh Mein, Bekrar Dil Tut Gaya, Baandhi Re Kahe Preet, Saat Samundar Paar, Somvaar Ko Hum Mile, Sona Re Tujhe Kaise Miloon, Yeh Pyara Lage Tera Chehra, Jab Aati Hogi Yaad Meri, and Yeh Pyar Kiya Hai in her discography.
Tributes pour in
Mourning the loss of the legendary actor several tributes poured in on social media. While fans recalled her timeless songs, others remembered her movies. Former BJP MLA Bharati Lavekar took to X (formerly Twitter) and described Sulakshana Pandit as “a golden voice that defined an era and a graceful presence that touched countless hearts.” She added, “Her melodies will remain eternal, resonating through generations.”
“The melodious melancholy of life defined Sulakshana, who carried sincere hopes of becoming a singing star on screen. Those dreams did not fully take flight, and she did not reach the heights she once sought in singing or acting. Yet she leaves behind many melodic moments for us to remember and cherish,” wrote Pavan Jha, a notable technical lead in cinema.