When Sulakshana Pandit went into depression after beau Sanjeev Kumar’s sudden death at 47, said, “These deaths are..."

When Sulakshana Pandit went into depression after beau Sanjeev Kumar’s sudden death at 47, said, “These deaths are..."

Sulakshana Pandit passed away on November 6, 2025, the same date that marks Sanjeev Kumar’s death anniversary. The coincidence draws a poignant circle around their story, she had loved him deeply, quietly, and lifelong. Her death on his remembrance day feels like the final echo of a bond that never found closure.

Sanjeev Kumar’s romantic life has always occupied a quiet, complex space in Hindi film history. His affection for Hema Malini, which began during Seeta Aur Geeta, is well-known. He loved her deeply and even proposed, but Hema chose Dharmendra. The rejection left Sanjeev wounded. Later, he developed a bond with Shabana Azmi, but that too remained unrealised; his family reportedly did not approve of a Muslim daughter-in-law. These stories became part of film folklore. Yet, the most tender and tragic chapter of his emotional life remained tied to someone who loved him without asking for anything in return: Sulakshana Pandit.

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Sulakshana came from a family where music was not just inherited—it was lived. Born on July 12, 1954, in Raigarh, she grew up in a home surrounded by riyaz, raagas, and recordings. Her father, Pratap Narain Pandit, was a classical vocalist, and her uncle was Pandit Jasraj. Her siblings—Mandheer, Jatin, and Lalit—became prominent composers, while her sister Vijayta starred in films.

Sulakshana herself began performing at just nine. Her early duet with Lata Mangeshkar, “Saat Samundar Paar Se, Papa Jaldi Aana,” made audiences sit up. Songs like Tu Hi Saagar Tu Hi Kinara, Dil Jo Duniya Ke Ghamo Dard Se Ghabraye, and Beqaraar Dil Tu Gaaye Ja cemented her place among the most evocative voices of the era.

But destiny had more in store than music. In 1975, she made her big-screen debut opposite Sanjeev Kumar in the suspense drama Uljhan. Sanjeev was still grieving his heartbreak. He spoke about it often, and Sulakshana listened. In comforting him, she fell in love herself—quietly, patiently, and completely. She never dramatised her feelings. She simply hoped that one day, he would see her love as the answer to his loneliness.

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Life refused to bend. Sanjeev, overwhelmed by inner battles, turned to alcohol. He later suffered a heart attack and underwent bypass surgery in the United States. When he returned, Sulakshana took him to a temple and proposed to him. She believed love could heal. Sanjeev refused. But he did not push her away. She stayed. She cared for him until the end.

When Sanjeev Kumar died in 1985 at just 47, Sulakshana’s world collapsed. Shortly after, her mother passed away. The back-to-back losses shattered her. In a rare moment of vulnerability, she once said, “These deaths had a lasting impact on me. They took a toll on my health. I was mentally disturbed and shaken for the longest time.”

Her career slowed. Offers faded. The industry moved forward, as industries do. But Sulakshana remained suspended in grief that did not loosen its grip.

In 2006, her sister Vijayta and brother-in-law Aadesh Shrivastava brought her home to care for her. They helped her stabilise, but the emotional wounds had already etched themselves deep.