Abhinaya Sharade B. Saroja Devi passed away
Abhinaya Sharade: Veteran actress B. Saroja Devi, often referred to as “Abhinaya Sharade,” passed away at the age of 87 on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Bengaluru. She was a prominent figure in South Indian cinema, having acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages over seven decades.
She was known by epithets like “Abhinaya Saraswathi” in Kannada and “Kannadathu Paingili” (Kannada’s Parrot) in Tamil. Her illustrious career earned her numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992, two of India’s highest civilian honors.
Her passing marks the end of an era in Indian cinema, and tributes are pouring in from across the industry. B. Saroja Devi is a legendary Indian actress who has acted in over 200 films across Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi languages.
Her film career spans six decades, earning her the epithets “Abinaya Saraswathi” in Kannada and “Kannadathu Paingili” in Tamil.
Early Life and Career:
Born on January 7, 1938, in Bangalore, Karnataka, Saroja Devi began her acting career at 17 with the Kannada film “Mahakavi Kalidasa” (1955), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada. She was discovered by filmmaker B.R. Krishnamurthy and encouraged by her father, Bhairappa.
Tamil Films:
Nadodi Mannan (1958) with MGR
Palum Pazhamum (1961)
Anbe Vaa (1966)
Enga Veettu Pillai (1965)
Kannada Films:
School Master (1958)
Kittooru Rani Chennamma (1961)
Amarashilpi Jakanachaari (1964)
Mallammana Pavada (1969) with Dr. Rajkumar
Telugu Films:
Panduranga Mahatyam (1957)
Seetarama Kalyanam (1961) with N.T. Rama Rao
Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961)
Hindi Films:
Paigham (1959) with Dilip Kumar
Sasural (1961)
Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1963)
Awards and Honors:
Saroja Devi has received numerous awards, including ¹ ³:
Padma Shri (1969)
Padma Bhushan (1992)
Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu
Honorary Doctorate from Bangalore University
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Government of India (2008)
Personal Life:
Saroja Devi married Sri Harsha, a Bharat Electronics engineer, in 1967, and the couple had two children, including adopted daughters Bhuvaneshwari and Indira, and a son, Gautam Ramachandran. After her husband’s death in 1986, Saroja Devi continued acting, albeit at a slower pace.
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