The Padma Bhushan awardee and first female superstar of Kannada cinema starred in over 200 films across four languages, shaping the golden era of Indian cinema.
New Delhi: 14 July 2025
B. Saroja Devi, a legendary figure of Indian cinema, passed away on Monday in Bengaluru, at the age of 87 after a responding ailing age-related situation. Considered as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema, and a larger-than-life persona in the Tamil, Telugu and Hindi film industries, her demise marks the end of a significant chapter in Indian cinema.
Saroja Devi first appeared on screen in 1955 with Mahakavi Kalidasa and almost immediately after, became one of the most famous stars with an unbeatable combination of charm, beauty, and versatility. Her first big hit came in 1958 with School Master, and then the pure patriotic Kittur Chennamma (1961) in Kannada, she firmly entrenched herself as one of the major leading ladies of her time.
In Tamil cinema, she will be remembered for her films with M.G. Ramachandran (Nadodi Mannan, Anbe Vaa) and Sivaji Ganesan (Bhaaga Pirivinai), which made her a screen icon. Telugu audiences will also recall her appearances opposite N.T. Rama Rao in productions such as Seetarama Kalyanam (1961), and in Bollywood, she had prominent roles opposite many stars such as Dilip Kumar (Paigham) and Sunil Dutt (Beti Bete).
In a career of over six decades and more than 200 films as an actor, Saroja Devi won several awards including the Padma Shri (1969), Padma Bhushan (1992), a Lifetime Achievement Award from Government of India in 2008.
Her death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cinema but her legacy of dazzling performances and pan-Indian presence will invigorate generations of actors and film lovers.
