Saroja Devi Passed Away at 87: Actress B Saroja Devi Death

B Saroja Devi died Monday at 87 in her home in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. The last several months before her death, Saroja Devi had been battling age-related illnesses. Saroja Devi was not an ordinary actress, but she set a trend by becoming a woman superstar of the Kannada cinema world. She had an outstanding career of 29 years between 1955 and 1984, where she acted in 161 films as the lead actress in all the movies. This puts her among the most successful actresses of Indian film history.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Veteran Kannada actor Saroja Devi passes away at 87 due to age-related illness

(Visuals from her residence in Bengaluru ) pic.twitter.com/jTBm1pTaMm
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2025

Early Life and Career Beginning of Saroja Devi

B Saroja Devi was born on 7 January 1938 in Bangalore (now Bengaluru) in a Vokkaliga family of Karnataka. Bhairappa (father) and Rudramma (mother) were a police officer and a homemaker, respectively. Saroja Devi was the fourth-born girl in the family.

She entered the world of films so early at the age of 13. B.R. Krishnamurthy, the filmmaker, spotted her singing at a public event and gave her a role, which she refused in the beginning. But the fate decreed otherwise. Sarojadevi entered the film industry when she was 17, playing her first role in a Kannada movie, Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955). This great performance of the film earned her a National Award and marked the start of her career as an actress.

B Saroja has soon become a household name in the Kannada movies with unforgettable movies such as Kittur Chennamma, Anna Thamma, Bhakta Kanakadasa, Bale Bangara, Nagakannike, Bettada Hoovu, and Kasturi Nivasa, among others. Her breathing acting range was demonstrated through these movies and made her one of the legends.

It was in 1958 that a breakthrough was made in Saroja Devi career through the Tamil film, Nadodi Mannan wherein she acted alongside M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). This movie also turned her into a super star in the Tamil Movie too. Actress Saroja Devi also later worked in 26 movies with MGR who was commonly known as her lucrative totem by being successful box office hits with him.

B Sarojadevi acted in all leading heroes of the Tamil cinema like Gemini Ganesan in Kalyana Parisu (1959), Sivaji Ganesan in Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959), and others in lots of hit movies like Palum Pazhamum (1961), Aalayamani (1962), Periya Idathu Penn (1963), and Anbe Vaa (1966), etc.

Her people used to affectionately refer to her as Kannadathu Paingili (the parrot of Karnataka) and Abhinaya Saraswathi (the goddess of expression). In 1964, Saroja Devi acted in “Amarashilpi Jakanachaari,” which was the first full length Kannada film in color.

On 1 March 1967, B Saroja Devi got married to the engineer, Sri Harsha of Bharat Electronics. The case of many actresses of her era was different because she was still acting with the help of her husband.

She was awarded so many honors on her works in the cinema like the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. She was also an honorary doctoratee of Bangalore University and honorary given Kalaimamani award by the Tamil Nadu government.

The death date of the Saroja Devi is Monday, July 14, 2025 and it is the end of an era in Indian cinema. Her Saroja Devi death does set a legacy that would have to inspire generations of actors and filmmakers in the future.

B Saroja Devi met a peaceful death at her home and left innumerable memories and an impressive body of work which will keep on entertaining people for years and years. Her activities in Kannada as well as Tamil film industry are not going to be forgotten.