Mumbai/IBNS, Nov. 7 -- "She was the first star in our family," wrote Durga Jasraj, daughter of the legendary Pandit Jasraj, remembering her cousin, actress-singer Sulakshana Pandit, who passed away in Mumbai on Thursday at the age of 71.

Her words capture what many in the illustrious Pandit family feel - that Sulakshana was not only a gifted artist but the bridge that carried their family's classical legacy into the world of cinema.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Durga recalled, "While the three brothers - Sangeet Mahamahopadhyay Pandit Maniram ji, Sangeet Acharya Pandit Pratap Narayan ji (Sulakshana jiji's father), and Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj ji - dedicated their lives to Hindustani Classical Music, Sulakshana jiji dedicated her e...