Pyarelal's wife Sunila Sharma passes away at 78 in Mumbai
Synopsis
Sunila Pyarelal Sharma, the wife of legendary Bollywood composer Pyarelal, passed away on 12 July 2026 at 78 — quietly closing a chapter in the personal story behind one of Hindi cinema's most prolific musical partnerships. The couple had only recently appeared together on Indian Idol, revisiting decades of timeless music.
Key Takeaways
Sunila Pyarelal Sharma , wife of composer Pyarelal , passed away on 12 July 2026 at the age of 78 .
Her funeral was held on 13 July 2026 at Dattatray Road Crematorium, Santacruz (West), Mumbai .
Singer Priyanka Mitra announced the passing via a social media post on behalf of the family.
Pyarelal , alongside the late Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar , composed music for hundreds of Hindi films across five decades .
Sunila had recently appeared with Pyarelal on the reality show Indian Idol , where the couple shared anecdotes from their musical journey.
Legendary music composer Pyarelal Sharma, one half of the iconic Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo, is grieving the loss of his wife, Sunila Pyarelal Sharma, who passed away on 12 July 2026 at the age of 78. Her funeral was held at the Dattatray Road Crematorium in Santacruz (West), Mumbai, on 13 July 2026.
Family Announces the Passing
Singer Priyanka Mitra shared the news through an emotional social media post on behalf of the bereaved family. The announcement read: 'With deep grief and love in our hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Amma, Sunila Pyarelal Sharma, who left for her heavenly abode on 12 July, 2026, surrounded by the warmth of her family.'
The tribute continued: 'Amma lived a life of grace, devotion, and quiet strength — a pillar of unconditional love to all who knew her. While our hearts are heavy, we find comfort knowing she is finally at peace.' The message was signed by the Sharma, Nathani, Sirur and Haldipur families.
Who Was Sunila Pyarelal Sharma
Sunila Sharma was widely regarded as a steadfast presence behind one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated musical partnerships. Most recently, she had appeared as a special guest on the singing reality show Indian Idol, alongside her husband Pyarelal, where the couple revisited the duo's evergreen compositions and shared personal anecdotes from their decades-long musical journey.
Pyarelal's Legacy in Indian Cinema
Pyarelal, along with the late Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar, composed music for hundreds of Hindi films across five decades, delivering soundtracks that remain deeply embedded in Indian cultural memory. Their body of work includes iconic films such as 'Bobby', 'Karz', 'Amar Akbar Anthony', 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram', 'Mr. India', 'Hero', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Tezaab', 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye', and 'Utsav', among many others.
This comes as a moment of profound personal loss for a composer whose music has soundtracked generations of Indian audiences. The entertainment fraternity is expected to pay tributes in the coming days.
Point of View
Yet the lives of those who anchored these composers at home have received little public attention. Her recent Indian Idol appearance — a rare public moment — now reads as an inadvertent farewell. For Pyarelal, who has already outlived his creative partner Laxmikant, this is a second profound loss within the same chapter of his life.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sunila Pyarelal Sharma?
Sunila Pyarelal Sharma was the wife of legendary Bollywood music composer Pyarelal, of the iconic Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo. She passed away on 12 July 2026 at the age of 78, and was remembered by her family as a person of grace, devotion, and quiet strength.
When and where was Sunila Sharma's funeral held?
Her funeral was held on 13 July 2026 at the Dattatray Road Crematorium in Santacruz (West), Mumbai, as announced by the family.
How was Sunila Sharma's death announced?
Singer Priyanka Mitra shared the news through an emotional social media post on behalf of the Sharma, Nathani, Sirur and Haldipur families, describing Sunila as 'a pillar of unconditional love to all who knew her.'
What is Pyarelal's contribution to Indian film music?
Pyarelal, alongside the late Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar, composed music for hundreds of Hindi films over five decades. Their iconic soundtracks include Bobby, Karz, Amar Akbar Anthony, Mr. India, Ram Lakhan, and Tezaab, among many others.
What was Sunila Sharma's last public appearance?
Sunila Sharma most recently appeared as a special guest on the singing reality show Indian Idol alongside her husband Pyarelal, where the couple revisited the duo's evergreen compositions and shared anecdotes from their musical journey.
