Bengaluru: Veteran actor Saroja Devi breathed her last due to age-related ailments. The Indian film industry has been in grief and has been mourning the loss. Often hailed as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema, she made her debut in Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955 and rose to stardom with MG Ramachandran in Nadodi Mannan (1958).
Her illustrious career spanned Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, with notable pairings alongside legends like Sivaji Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao and Rajkumar. She acted in a record 161 consecutive lead roles between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi was honoured with Padma Shri (1969), Padma Bhushan (1992), and the Kalaimamani Award, among many others.
Fondly called “Kannadathu Paingili” and “Abhinaya Saraswathi”, she was admired for her grace, fashion, and dignity. She continued to mentor younger artists and serve on film juries even after retirement. Her passing marks the end of a golden chapter in Indian cinema, but her legacy as a trailblazer and timeless star will endure.
Actor Rajinikanth mourns the demise of veteran actor Saroja Devi. ” He wrote on X, “The great actress Saroja Devi, who won the hearts of millions of fans, is no longer with us. May her soul rest in peace.” In Kannada, she starred opposite Dr Rajkumar and Kalyan Kumar in landmark films like Amarashilpi Jakanachari, Bhagyavantharu, Babruvahana, and Katha Sangama.
In Telugu, she shone in devotional and mythological roles with films like Panduranga Mahatyam and Daksha Yagnam. She was equally successful in Hindi cinema, with notable roles in Asha, Gharana, and Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna, sharing screen space with stars like Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor.
