Sandhya Shantaram, acclaimed Hindi and Marathi actor and wife of V Shantaram, passed away at 94. Known for films like Navrang, she was a creative force and devoted stepmother.
Sandhya Shantaram passed away on Saturday.
Veteran Actor Passes Away at 94Veteran Hindi and Marathi actor Sandhya Shantaram passed away at the age of 94 due to age-related ailments.
Wife and Muse of V. ShantaramShe was the third wife of legendary filmmaker V. Shantaram and worked exclusively in his films throughout her career.
One-Filmmaker ActressSandhya remains one of the few actresses in Indian cinema who worked with only one director — similar to Priya Rajvansh, who appeared solely in Chetan Anand’s movies.
Early Life and DiscoveryBorn in 1932 in Kochi, Sandhya came from a theatre family. Her father and sisters were backstage professionals, but she dreamed of acting in films.
Discovered by V. ShantaramIn 1951, Shantaram discovered her because her voice resembled his then-wife Jayashree’s. He gave her the screen name Sandhya and launched her in Amar Bhoopali.
Iconic Films With V. ShantaramShe went on to star in several of his classics — Parchhain (1952), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Hath (1958), Navrang (1959), Sehra (1963), and Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli (1971).
Marriage and Personal BondAfter Shantaram’s separation from Jayashree, he married Sandhya in 1956. Their partnership was both professional and deeply personal.
The Story Behind ‘Navrang’When Shantaram was losing his eyesight, Sandhya cared for him personally. After his surgery, he was inspired by the flowers she had placed around him — which led to the visual idea for Navrang.
Later Years and FamilyThe couple had no children together, but Sandhya lovingly raised Shantaram’s children from his earlier marriages. His son, Kiran Shantaram, remembered her as “very sweet, a wonderful cook, and would lovingly feed us.”
Final Years at Rajkamal StudiosSandhya spent her last years living at Rajkamal Studios in Mumbai. She was last seen publicly in 2009 during Navrang’s 50th-anniversary celebration at the V. Shantaram Awards.
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First Published:
October 05, 2025, 14:34 IST
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