Veteran singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit passed away in Mumbai at the age of 71. Known for her melodious voice and brilliant screen presence, she was one of the rare female artistes in Hindi cinema who excelled as both a playback singer and actor.
Despite her talent, Sulakshana’s career and life were full of sorrow – from losing her love and family members to being out of the public eye.
Who was Sulakshana Pandit?
Add Zee News as favorite source
Sulakshana belonged to a very prestigious musical family. His father, Pandit Pratap Narayan Pandit, was a classical singer, and his uncle was the great Pandit Jasraj.
He started singing at the age of nine and performed with great artists like Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar during stage shows. His natural singing talent immediately attracted attention, marking the beginning of a bright journey in music.
At a very young age, he also got a chance to sing with his idol Lata Mangeshkar. His playback music debut was the duet “Saat Samundar Paar Ke” with Lata ji in the 1967 film Takdeer. Some of his other memorable songs include “Jaana Kahan Hai” (Chalte-Chalte), “Somwar Ko Hum Mile” (Apnapan), and “Chal Chal Kahin Akele Mein” (Bars).
His musical and film journey
Sulakshana’s voice was full of warmth, emotion and grace – making her one of the best-loved singers of the 1970s. Her song “Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Kinara” from the film Sankalp (1975) is still remembered as one of her most soulful performances.
Along with singing, she also made her mark as an actress. Sulakshana started her acting career with Uljhan (1975) opposite Sanjeev Kumar. Their on-screen chemistry was appreciated and she soon appeared in popular films like Bundal Baaz (with Rajesh Khanna), Hera Pheri (with Vinod Khanna), Waqt Ki Deewar, Sanchak and Khandaan. She also shared the screen with Shashi Kapoor in films like Salakhen, Phansi and Amar Shakti.
the love that broke her
Everyone knew that Sulakshana had fallen deeply in love with her confused co-star Sanjeev Kumar. Unfortunately, she didn’t feel the same way and rejected his marriage proposal.
His sudden death in 1985 left him devastated. Around the same time, he also lost his mother.
These continuous defeats had a deep impact on his mental health. In one of his interviews, he admitted, “These deaths had a lasting impact on me. They completely shook me and affected my health for years.”
After these tragedies, Sulakshana gradually moved away from films and public life.
A family of genius and tragedy
Sulakshana belonged to a family of seven siblings, including her brothers Jatin and Lalit Pandit – the famous musician duo – and sisters Maya, Sandhya and Vijayata Pandit.
In 2012, his sister Sandhya Pandit was tragically murdered. However, Sulakshana was never told about this. Her sister Vijayata later revealed in a 2024 interview that she had hidden the news to save Sulakshana from further grief.
“I keep telling her that Sandhya lives in Indore and calls me often,” Vijayata said, explaining that the truth would be too painful for Sulakshana to bear.
his last years
In her later years, Sulakshana lived quietly with her sister Vijayata Pandit and late brother-in-law Aadesh Srivastava. Despite staying away from the limelight, his songs and films continue to remind people of his immense talent.
Remembering Sulakshana Pandit
Sulakshana Pandit’s life was a mixture of music, fame and grief. She brought warmth and purity to her music and films and left behind a legacy that still touches hearts.
Even though his journey ended in silence, his soulful voice and gentle spirit will always be remembered as part of the golden age of Hindi cinema.