Mumbai, November 7, 2025: Veteran Bollywood actress and playback singer Sulakshana Pandit has passed away after a prolonged illness. She was 71 years old.
Confirming the news, her brother and music composer Lalit Pandit said, “She passed away around 8 pm. She suffered cardiac arrest. Her funeral will be held on November 7.”
Sulakshana Pandit, the elder sister of the famous composer duo Jatin–Lalit, was a well-known face in both Indian cinema and music. The siblings contributed immensely to Bollywood’s golden musical era, with Jatin–Lalit known for timeless soundtracks like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).
Sulakshana began her acting career in the 1970s, debuting opposite Sanjeev Kumar in Uljhan (1975). During her peak years, she starred alongside top Bollywood heroes including Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, and Vinod Khanna.
As a playback singer, she lent her voice to several celebrated composers such as Shankar–Jaikishan, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, Usha Khanna, and Rajesh Roshan.
Her iconic rendition of “Tu Hi Sagar Tu Hi Kinara” from Sankalp (1975), composed by Mohammad Zahur Khayyam, earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1976.
Throughout her musical career, Sulakshana Pandit also performed memorable duets with industry legends Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar, leaving behind an enduring legacy that bridged the worlds of acting and melody.
