Sulakshana Pandit’s death has brought a wave of grief across the music and film fraternity. The veteran singer and actress died on November 6, 2025, at the age of 71. Known for her expressive voice and memorable film performances, she leaves behind a legacy stored deeply in the memory of Hindi cinema and its audience.
Her brother, composer Lalit Pandit, confirmed the news and shared details of her final rites. Sulakshana passed away yesterday around 8 pm. She suffered cardiac arrest. Her funeral will be tomorrow, November 7, 2025, at 12 noon. She breathed her last at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai after a prolonged period of illness.
Soon after, the Pandit family issued a formal statement for friends, well-wishers, and members of the industry.
It read:
It is with deep sorrow that we share the sad news of our beloved sister, Sulakshana Pandit, who left for her heavenly abode on 6th November 2025. The cremation will be held on Friday, 7th November 2025, at 1:00 PM at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Vile Parle, Mumbai.
— Pandit Family
Born on July 12, 1954, in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, Sulakshana belonged to a family rooted in music. She was the niece of classical legend Pandit Jasraj and the elder sister of composer duo Jatin-Lalit.
She began singing at the age of nine and made her playback debut in 1967. Her song Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Kinara from Sankalp became a milestone, earning her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1975. She also received the Miyan Tansen Award the same year.
Her voice carried gentleness and depth, heard in songs like Saat Samandar Paar Se from Taqdeer, sung alongside Lata Mangeshkar, which remains unforgettable for many listeners.
Acting soon followed. She made her Hindi film debut with Uljhan (1975) opposite Sanjeev Kumar and went on to act in Sankoch, Hera Pheri, Apnapan, Khandaan, and Waqt Ki Deewar. Her on-screen presence was graceful, expressive, and instantly engaging. Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was among the most recognizable faces in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Her personal life, however, was marked by unfulfilled love. Sulakshana deeply loved Sanjeev Kumar, and his rejection of her marriage proposal, coupled with his death in 1985, left a wound she never fully healed. She chose not to marry and gradually stepped away from public life.
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