When Sulakshana Pandit Took Sanjeev Kumar To Temple And Asked Him To Fill Her Maang With Sindoor

Veteran

actress and singer Sulakshana Pandit passed away on November 6 in Mumbai due to a cardiac arrest. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by her brother Lalit Pandit, who revealed that her funeral will take place today, November 7, in Mumbai.Sulakshana rose to fame with her debut in Uljhan (1975) opposite Sanjeev Kumar and went on to deliver memorable performances in films like Sankoch (1976), Hera Pheri, Apnapan, Khandaan, and Waqt Ki Deewar. However, she gradually stepped away from the limelight, reportedly after being deeply affected by Sanjeev Kumar’s early demise.

The Unfulfilled Love Story with Sanjeev Kumar

Sanjeev Kumar and Sulakshana Pandit were long rumoured to be romantically linked after the Angoor actor’s proposal to Hema Malini was turned down. However, author Hanif Zaveri, who wrote An Actor’s Actor: The Authorized Biography of Sanjeev Kumar, clarified that their relationship was one-sided.In an interview, Zaveri revealed, “It’s true that he was involved with Nutan and then Hema Malini but after that it was one sided. Sulakshana Pandit wanted to marry him but he was not interested. Sulakshana unko mandir mein leke gayi ke meri maang mein sindoor bhardo (She took him to the temple to get married) but he refused. Because he was aware that he will not survive for long and felt like, he did not want to spoil someone's life.”ALSO READ: Veteran Singer-Actress Sulakshana Pandit Dies At 71, Brother Lalit Pandit Confirms

Life After Sanjeev Kumar’s Demise

Sulakshana was deeply in love with Sanjeev Kumar, and his sudden death at the age of 47 in 1985 left her devastated. The tragedy worsened when her mother passed away shortly after, leaving her emotionally shattered. In one of her interviews, she shared, “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.”The singer and actress never married, as she couldn’t move on after losing Sanjeev Kumar. In 2006, her sister Vijayta Pandit and brother-in-law Aadesh Shrivastava brought her home to care for her and help her heal emotionally after years of trauma.For the unversed, Sulakshana’s sister Vijayta Pandit is also an actress and singer, best known for her debut opposite Kumar Gaurav in the 1981 film Love Story.