MUMBAI: Veteran Hindi film actress and singer Sulakshana Pandit, a popular name in the 1970s and 80s, passed away on Friday night following a cardiac arrest. She was 71. The news was confirmed by her brother, music composer Lalit Pandit, who said her death has left a deep void in the family and the film industry. Tributes have since poured in for the versatile artiste whose melodious voice and graceful screen presence once captivated audiences across India.

According to family members, Sulakshana complained of breathlessness around 7 p.m. and was being taken to Nanavati Hospital when she collapsed. “We were rushing her there, but she passed away before we could reach,” Lalit told PTI. Her funeral was held the next day at noon, attended by close family, colleagues and admirers who came to bid her farewell.

Born on July 12, 1954, in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, Sulakshana came from a family deeply rooted in classical music. Her father, Pratap Narain Pandit, was a noted classical singer, and her uncle, Pandit Jasraj, was one of the most respected figures of the Mewati Gharana. The eldest among seven siblings, including music directors Jatin and Lalit Pandit and actress Vijayta Pandit - she shouldered family responsibilities from an early age. She began singing professionally at nine, lending her voice to the song “Saat Samundar Paar Ke” with Lata Mangeshkar in the 1967 film Taqdeer, a duet that remains cherished to this day.

Sulakshana soon became a sought-after playback singer and went on to win the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Tu Hi Saagar Tu Hi Kinara” from Sankalp (1975). She sang in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Oriya and Gujarati, delivering memorable songs like “Bekrar Dil Tut Gaya,” “Pardesiya Tere Desh Ka,” and “Yeh Pyar Kiya Hai.” She even performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall alongside legends like Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar.

Her acting career began in 1975 with Uljhan, opposite Sanjeev Kumar. Known for her charm and expressive eyes, she became one of the leading actresses of the late 70s and early 80s, starring with Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, and Vinod Khanna in hits like Hera Pheri, Apnapan, Khandaan, and Dharam Kanta. Over 50 films showcased her range, from family dramas to suspense thrillers, many featuring her own songs on screen.

Off-screen, her life was marked by heartbreak and solitude. She was said to have fallen in love with Sanjeev Kumar during Uljhan, but he reportedly did not reciprocate her feelings. His death in 1985 deeply affected her, and she gradually withdrew from films. She never married and led a reclusive life in later years, battling financial difficulties and ill health.

In her final years, her siblings cared for her, and she lived with her sister Vijayta and brother-in-law, musician Aadesh Shrivastava, until his death. “She sacrificed so much for all of us,” Lalit said last year on her 70th birthday.

Poonam Dhillon remembered her as “a fine actress and a wonderful singer who deserved more recognition,” while Jeetendra called her “a dear co-star and a kind soul.” Her sister Vijayta said softly, “She went through a lot, but she never lost her grace or spirit.”