06-08-2025
By 37, She Had Lost Two Husbands: The Actress Who Endured Heartbreak Again And Again
Not every life mirrors the glamour of the silver screen. While some actors bask in the glow of superstardom, many endure profound personal tragedies behind the scenes. This is the poignant story of an actress who once lit up cinema screens, only to see her dreams collapse mere days after they began to unfold.
Leena Chandavarkar, a beloved face of Hindi cinema during the 1970s and 80s, was born into a military family in Karnataka. She made her debut in 1968 with the film Maa Ka Meet, opposite the then-rising star Vinod Khanna. The film's success catapulted her into the limelight, and Leena Chandavarkar quickly became a sought-after actress, sharing the screen with legends like Rajesh Khanna and Dilip Kumar. Almost overnight, she had cemented her place as a leading lady in Bollywood.
At the height of her fame, Leena Chandavarkar fell in love with Siddharth Bandodkar, the son of Goa's first Chief Minister. At 24, she married Siddharth Bandodkar, stepping into married life with dreams of joy and comfort. But fate had other plans.
Just 11 days after their wedding, Siddharth Bandodkar tragically died while cleaning his gun, in what was described as an accident. Leena Chandavarkar returned to her mother's home, now a widow, and was subjected to cruel judgement, with many branding her "unlucky".
Despite the social stigma and personal grief, Leena Chandavarkar attempted to return to films. Unfortunately, her comeback film Bairaag (1976) failed at the box office. It was during this time that she formed a bond with iconic singer and actor Kishore Kumar.
The marriage, though full of challenges, lasted seven years. They had a child together. But once again, tragedy struck; in 1987, Kishore Kumar passed away, leaving Leena Chandavarkar a widow for the second time, this time at just 37 years old.
Today, at 74, Leena Chandavarkar lives with her son and continues to care for another child she has adopted and is raising as her own. Her life stands as a testament to resilience, silent strength, and the reality that not all stars live fairy tale lives.
