RIP Sulakshana Pandit

She was unique in Bollywood movie industry, a multi talented girl who was both an actress and a singer - rare quality shared by only a very few, a la the eccentric genius Kishore Kumar and Salma Agha who could sing and act as well. Sulakhyana Pandit who died today at the age of 71 belonged to that category.

The singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit once took Sanjeev Kumar, a well known, popular actor of the time to a temple to get married and proposed him - "MERI MAANG MEIN SINDOOR BHAR DO" (Please put a dot of Vermillion on my head, a popular way of a Hindu girl proposing those days). This incident has been revealed by the Biographer of Sanjeev Kumar who politely declined her proposal. Both remained unmarried till death. Incidentally the prolific actor, the famous "THAKUR SAAB" of Hindi movie SHOLAY fame, arguably the best movie in Bollywood industry passed away on the same day, November 6, 1985 exactly 40 years ago at the young age of 47. Height of coincidence, isn't it !!!

Sanjeev Kumar who earlier proposed to Nutan in a movie set and was slapped by her, later rejected by Hema Malini too, once recounted about Sulakshana Pandit been in love him. It is speculated that as a result of this rejection Sulakshana Pandit never married and chose to remain a spinster. Sanjeev Kumar  grimaced and famously replied to Pandit in his distinctive soft, lyrical voice with his characteristic smirk on his face - "Mein Kisi Aur Ko Pyaar Karta Hoon, Aur Toom Mujhe aur Wo Kisi Aur Se. Zindagi Kuchh Ajeeb Si Hai" - "I love some one and you love me, and she loves someone else. Life is somewhat weird". He wasn't far from truth.

RIP Sulakshana Pandit. You were a rare multitalented breed in Bollywood, arguably the last one. Om 🕉 Shanti.