Veteran singer-actor Sulakshana Pandit passes away at 71

Sulakshna Pandit

Veteran singer and actor Sulakshana Pandit, known for her memorable contributions to Hindi cinema and music, passed away on Thursday, November 6, at the age of 71. The actor breathed her last at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. Her brother, music composer Lalit Pandit confirmed to mid-day about her passing. He said, "She passed away today around 8.00 pm. She suffered cardiac arrest. Her funeral will be tomorrow (November 7) at 12.00 noon."

Born in 1954 into a family deeply rooted in music, Sulakshana was the niece of the legendary classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and the sister of music composer duo Jatin-Lalit. She began her musical journey at the age of nine and made her playback singing debut in 1967. Her song Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Kinara from the film Sankalp (1975) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

Alongside her singing career, Sulakshana also appeared in several films during the 1970s and 1980s, including Uljhan (1975) opposite Sanjeev Kumar and Sankoch (1976). Despite an illustrious start in both acting and music, her later years were marked by personal and professional challenges.