Leena Chandavarkar, once a luminous star of 1970s Bollywood, led a life far removed from the glamour she portrayed on screen. Hailing from a military family in Karnataka, she made a stellar debut in ‘Maa Ka Meet’ (1968) opposite Vinod Khanna, quickly establishing herself as a leading lady.
From silver screen to sudden sorrow
Her charm and talent saw her paired with the biggest names of the era, including Rajesh Khanna and Dilip Kumar. But behind the applause and camera flashes, fate had drafted a far more tragic script for her personal life.
A bride for 11 days, a widow for years
At the peak of her fame, Leena fell in love with Siddharth Bandodkar, son of Goa’s first Chief Minister. They married when she was just 24. But only 11 days into her new life, Siddharth died in a gun accident. Leena returned to her family home, grappling not just with grief, but with whispers that branded her “unlucky.” The tragedy derailed her career. Her attempted comeback with Bairaag didn’t click at the box office. But destiny had more in store.She soon crossed paths with legendary singer Kishore Kumar. Despite their age difference and his three prior marriages, love bloomed. Against societal norms and family resistance, the two married.
A second blow and a lifetime of grace
Leena’s second innings with Kishore Kumar brought love and a son into her life. But after just seven years of marriage, in 1987, she lost Kishore to a heart attack, becoming a widow once again — this time at just 37. The heartbreak was immense, yet she did not retreat from life. Instead, she devoted herself to motherhood and healing.Now 74, Leena Chandavarkar lives quietly with her son and an adopted child she cares for like her own.
