A Secret Held for a Decade: The Tragic Story Behind Sulakshana Pandit’s Final Years

Vijayta Pandit Shielded Late Sister Sulakshana From News of Sibling’s Murder

The film industry is mourning the loss of veteran actress and singer Sulakshana Pandit, who passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness. As tributes pour in for the multi-talented star, a deeply emotional story shared last year by her younger sister, actress Vijayta Pandit, has resurfaced, shedding light on the immense emotional burden the family carried for over a decade.

Vijayta Pandit had previously revealed that, even after ten years, Sulakshana Pandit was never told about the horrific murder of their sister, Sandhya Pandit, in 2012.

The Painful Secret: Sandhya Pandit’s Murder

Vijayta Pandit, who is also the sister of famous music composer duo Jatin-Lalit, spoke to Lehren Retro last year, explaining why the devastating news was kept from Sulakshana.

“She (Sandhya) was murdered… After a long time, they found her bones scattered in different places,” Vijayta emotionally recounted. “It was a very big thing.”

Sandhya Pandit had gone missing in 2012, and her partial skeleton was discovered nearly a month later. Her son, Raghuveer Singh, was later acquitted of all murder charges in 2021 by a Thane sessions court, as the prosecution could not establish guilt, only that the accused had enmity with his mother and was addicted to alcohol.

The Act to Protect a Sister

The reason for the decade-long deception was Vijayta’s fear for Sulakshana’s fragile health. Sulakshana had suffered severe emotional trauma following the death of actor Sanjeev Kumar (her co-star whom she loved) in 1985, and later, the death of her mother.

“And you won’t believe it, Sulakshana ji, even till today, has no idea that our sister is no more. Can you believe this? This is the first time I am saying this,” Vijayta had revealed. She added the chilling reason for her silence: “I never told her because if she finds out, she will die that very moment.”

To maintain the heartbreaking facade, Vijayta confirmed that she would regularly tell her elder sister that Sandhya was “fine, lives in Indore, and that she calls me too.” She had to keep up the act even when Sulakshana would ask her to send her love to Sandhya, believing she simply didn’t use a mobile phone.

A Legacy of Music and Cinema: Remembering Sulakshana Pandit

Sulakshana Pandit’s funeral was held on Friday at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai. She leaves behind a rich legacy as both an actress and a singer.

• Singing Career: She is celebrated for classics like Bekrar Dil Tu Gaye Ja and the popular duet Somwar Ko Hum Mile Mangalwar Ko Nain with legendary Kishore Kumar. Her collaboration with Mohammed Rafi on Pardesiya Tere Desh Mein and Sona Re Tujhe Kaise Miloon are also highly cherished.
• Acting Career: She made her cinematic debut opposite the legendary Sanjeev Kumar in Uljhan (1975). Her notable film credits also include Hera Pheri (1976), Dharam Kanta (1982), and Goraa (1987).

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• Sulakshana Pandit Dies at 71: Vijayta Pandit’s Decade-Long Secret Revealed
• Why Sulakshana Pandit Was Never Told About Sister Sandhya’s Murder
• Remembering Sulakshana Pandit: Singer and Actress Passes Away
• The Tragic Story of the Pandit Sisters: Sandhya’s Murder and Sulakshana’s Secret