Sulakshana Pandit’s prayer meet held in Mumbai, family and Bollywood celebs Jitendra, Shabana Azmi pay heartfelt tribute

Sulakshana Pandit’s prayer meet held in Mumbai, family and Bollywood celebs Jitendra, Shabana Azmi pay heartfelt tribute

Sulakshana Pandit, one of the notable voices and faces of Hindi cinema from the 1970s and early 80s, was remembered by friends, colleagues, and family at a prayer meet held on Monday at the ISKCON Temple in Juhu. She passed away on November 6 at the age of 71. Her family, including siblings, relatives from the Pandit family, and several members of the film fraternity gathered quietly, offering prayers and condolences.

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Actor Mukesh Rishi was among the first to arrive, spending time with the family and offering his support. Music composer Avitesh Shrivastava, son of late music director Aadesh Shrivastava, also attended, standing with Sulakshana’s siblings during the prayers. Her brother, composer Lalit Pandit, was seen speaking to well-wishers with a composed yet visibly emotional demeanor. Her sister, actress and singer Vijayta Pandit, greeted people with folded hands and thanked them for coming. The atmosphere was somber, intimate, and respectful.

Lalit Pandit recently shared that Sulakshana had been unwell for some time. On the day of her passing, she had complained of breathlessness. The family was taking her to Nanavati Hospital when she died on the way. Her funeral was held the next day at Pawan Hans Crematorium, where artists like Shabana Azmi and Poonam Dhillon came to pay their last respects.

Sulakshana was born on July 12, 1954, in an illustrious musical family. Her uncle was the legendary classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj. She grew up in a home where music was not only a tradition but a way of life. Her brothers Jatin and Lalit would go on to become one of the most successful music composer duos in Bollywood, while her sister Vijayta also became known for her playback work and acting.

Sulakshana’s musical journey began at the age of nine. She sang with icons like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Yesudas, and Udit Narayan. She won the Filmfare Award for the song Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Kinara from Sankalp (1975). She also released ghazals, including her 1980 album Jazbaat, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Her voice was last heard in the 1996 film Khamoshi: The Musical, in a composition by her brothers.

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Her acting career began in 1975 with Uljhan and soon she was working opposite leading stars like Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, and Shatrughan Sinha. Films like Sankoch, Aapnapan, Bandhan Kache Dhagon Ka, Hera Pheri, and Khandaan remain part of her legacy.

Her personal life, especially her unfulfilled love for Sanjeev Kumar, shaped her later years. She never married and gradually withdrew from public life, facing health and emotional struggles.

On November 6, exactly 40 years after Sanjeev Kumar’s death on the same date, Sulakshana Pandit left the world. The coincidence wasn’t lost on those who knew their story. Her farewell was quiet, dignified, and filled with memory.