Mumbai: Sulakshana Pandit — the celebrated actress and soulful playback singer who lit up Hindi cinema in the 1970s — passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday night after a prolonged illness. She was 71.
According to family sources, Pandit breathed her last at Nanavati Hospital, where she had been under treatment for several weeks. Her funeral will be held in Mumbai, with her musically gifted family — including composer brothers Jatin–Lalit — and relatives from the illustrious Pandit lineage expected to attend.
A niece of classical maestro Pandit Jasraj, Sulakshana belonged to one of India’s most respected musical dynasties. Equally admired for her grace on screen and her deeply emotive voice, she seamlessly balanced acting and singing at a time when both demanded distinct mastery.
She lent her voice to compositions by R.D. Burman, Kalyanji–Anandji, and Laxmikant–Pyarelal, creating a rich legacy of romantic and devotional songs cherished by generations.
Despite a brilliant start, Sulakshana gradually faded from the limelight in the late 1980s, battling years of illness and solitude. She never married, and her unspoken affection for actor Sanjeev Kumar remained one of Bollywood’s most poignant tales.
Condolences poured in from across the film and music world, with tributes remembering her as “a rare artist who could act with her eyes and sing with her soul.”
भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली..!#rip #actress #entertainment #Condolences pic.twitter.com/tShvB3WrpT
— Film City Mumbai (@filmcitymumbai_) November 7, 2025
Sulakshana is survived by her siblings — music composer duo Jatin–Lalit and actress Vijayata Pandit.
