Veteran singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit passed away on November 6 at the age of 71 due to cardiac arrest. She died at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai after battling a prolonged illness. Her brother, music composer Lalit Pandit, confirmed the news, stating, "She passed away today around 8.00 pm. Her funeral will be tomorrow (November 7) at 12.00 noon."

Born on July 12, 1954, in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, Sulakshana came from a musically inclined family. She was the niece of renowned classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and the sister of the music composer duo Jatin-Lalit. Sulakshana began her singing career at the age of nine and made her playback singing debut in 1967. She gained fame with her hit song "Tu Hi Sagar Hai Tu Hi Kinara" from the film Sankalp (1975), which earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

Her duet "Saat Samandar Paar Se" with Lata Mangeshkar from the film Taqdeer (1967) is still remembered fondly. In addition to her singing career, Sulakshana also made a mark as an actress. She debuted in the film Uljhan (1975) alongside Sanjeev Kumar and appeared in several notable films, including Sankoch, Hera Pheri, and Waqt Ki Deewar.

Sulakshana's personal life was often in the spotlight, particularly her affection for her co-star Sanjeev Kumar. Despite her feelings, he was in love with Hema Malini, which led to a complicated relationship. After Kumar's death in 1985, Sulakshana withdrew from the film industry and never married. Interestingly, she passed away on the same date as Kumar, marking a poignant coincidence in her life.

Her contributions to Indian cinema and music have left a lasting legacy, and she is remembered as one of the most graceful and talented artists of her time.