Legendary actress B. Saroja Devi, one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated icons, passed away at the age of 87, as reported by OneIndia. Fondly referred to as “Abhinaya Saraswathi” and “Kannadathu Paingili,” she had an illustrious career spanning across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films.
Saroja Devi made her acting debut at the age of 17 in the 1955 Kannada classic Mahakavi Kalidasa. Her breakthrough came in 1958 with Nadodi Mannan opposite M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), which catapulted her to pan-Indian fame. She soon became one of the most sought-after actresses in South India and gained popularity in Hindi cinema for her powerful performances.
Throughout her career, she starred alongside legends like Sivaji Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao, Dr. Rajkumar, and Shammi Kapoor. In Telugu cinema, she made her debut with Panduranga Mahatyam in 1957.
Saroja Devi holds a rare distinction of having played the lead heroine in more than 161 consecutive films over a 29-year period between 1955 and 1984 — an unmatched feat in Indian film history.
Recognising her immense contributions, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. She also received the Kalaimamani Award and an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University. She held key roles like vice-president of Kannada Chalanchitra Sangha and chaired the jury of the 53rd National Film Awards.
Her passing marks the end of an era in Indian cinema.