New Delhi: Sandhya Shantaram’s life is a masterclass in transformation. Born on 13 September 193 , in Andhra Pradesh and raised with no formal background in theatre or classical dance, Vijaya Deshmukh’s path was anything but destined. Yet, it was her voice—uncannily similar to actor Jayshree’s—that caught the attention of filmmaker V Shantaram. He cast her in the 1951 film Amar Bhoopali and gave her a new name: Sandhya. She went from an untrained newcomer to the unshakable centre of some of Indian cinema’s most iconic films.

Her role in Amar Bhoopali , a singer who becomes the muse of the legendary Marathi poet Honaji Bala, demanded months of intense classical dance training. With no prior experience, Sandhya threw herself into the art with almost ascetic d

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