Veteran Hindi and Marathi actor Sandhya Shantaram passed away on Saturday at the age of 94 due to age-related ailments. She was the third wife of legendary filmmaker and actor V Shantaram, and worked only with him throughout her career. In fact, she's one of the few female actors who worked with only one filmmaker through her career. Another name that comes to mind is Priya Rajvansh, who acted in only Chetan Anand's movies. Sandhya, born in 1932 in Kochi, came from a family with strong ties to the theatre. Her father worked as a backstage theatre professional. Even her sisters worked in theatre. However, she aspired to act in films. In 1951, Shantaram discovered her, thanks to the striking resemblance of her voice with that of Jayashree, Shantaram's second wife. He christened her Sandhya. Sandhya Shantaram was instantly cast in V Shantaram's 1951 Marathi film Amar Bhoopali. An untrained yet a brilliant dancer, she went on to do her husband's Hindi films like Parchhain (1952), Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Hath (1958), Sehra (1963), Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli (1971). She also acted opposite Shantaram in Stree (1961). Sandhya starred in Shantaram's bilingual in Hindi and Marathi, Ladki Sahyadri Ki, in 1966. She was last seen in the Marathi movie Chandanachi Choli Ang Ang Jali (1975), for which she also won a Filmfare Award (Marathi) in the Best Actress category. Sandhya went beyond acting to become a collaborative creative force, contributing to choreography and other aspects of Shantaram’s films. After Shantaram's second wife Jayashree left him, he married Sandhya in 1956. Her most memorable performance came post marriage with the Hindi film Navrang in 1959. A couple of years after they tied the knot, Shantaram realized he's losing his vision. The doctor advised him to go into surgery immediately, but also suggested to hire a full-time nurse to take care of him. Sandhya claimed that by then, she knew her husband and director inside out, so would take care of him herself. She left no stones unturned and even filled Shantaram's room with iridescent flowers so that he feels more positive. As he opened his eyes post surgery and recovery, Shantaram saw the wide range of colourful flowers and got the idea for his film Navrang. V Shantaram and Sandhya Shantaram remained married till his death in 1991. They didn't have any kids of their own, but Sandhya took care of his kids from the two previous marriages. She was last seen in public at Navrang’s 50th-anniversary celebration during the V. Shantaram Awards in 2009. Sandhya stayed at Rajkamal Studio in Mumbai in her last days. She hadn't been keeping well for the last five years. After her death on Saturday, her stepson Kiran Shantaram, V Shantaram and Jayashree's son, told PTI, "The saddest part was that she did not have children of her own with my father, but she treated me and my sisters like her own. She was very sweet, a wonderful cook, and would lovingly feed us."
