**‘Navrang’ Actor Sandhya Shantaram, V. Shantaram’s Wife, Dies at 87**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 2025, 04:12 PM*
Veteran actor Sandhya Shantaram, known for her graceful and courageous performances in Indian cinema, has passed away at the age of 87. She gained widespread recognition for her roles in classic films such as *Pinjra* and *Navrang*.
Her memorable performance in the iconic song “Arre Ja Re Hatt Natkhat” from *Navrang* remains one of the highlights of her career. Interestingly, Sandhya had learned classical dance specifically for this song. Without the guidance of a choreographer, she collaborated with director and husband V. Shantaram to create the dance steps. The grandeur of the scene was enhanced by the presence of real elephants and horses on set, and Sandhya performed the dance without any stunt doubles or tricks.
Sandhya Shantaram’s last rites were held on Saturday at Vaikunth Dham in Shivaji Park. While the exact cause of her death has not been officially disclosed, a source informed *India Today* that she passed away due to health-related issues.
### Condolences Pour In
BJP leader Ashish Shelar took to social media to express his grief over her passing. He wrote, *”The news of the passing of Sandhya Shantaram ji, the renowned actress from the film Pinjra, is extremely heartbreaking. In the Marathi and Hindi film industries, she left a distinct impression on the audience’s minds with her unparalleled acting and dance skills.”*
### Life and Career
Sandhya Shantaram’s personal and professional life was closely intertwined with that of filmmaker V. Shantaram. Although V. Shantaram was already married to Jayashree, he fell in love with Sandhya while working together on the set of *Navrang*. Following their marriage, Sandhya became his muse, and the pair collaborated on several iconic films, including *Amar Bhoopali*, *Navrang*, *Pinjra*, *Do Aankhen Barah Haath*, and *Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje*.
Her contribution to Indian cinema, especially through her elegant performances and dedication to dance, continues to be highly regarded.
May she rest in peace.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/veteran-actor-sandhya-shantaram-dies-at-87/story
