Veteran actress B Saroja Devi dies at 87, celebs mourn her demise: ‘The end of a golden era’

Legendary actress Saroja Devi, who made her debut with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955, was known as ‘Abhinaya Saraswathi’ and ‘Kannadathu Paingili’.

Saroja Devi

Veteran actress B Saroja Devi, known as the first female superstar in Kannada cinema, passed away in Bengaluru on July 14, 2025, at the age of 87. The award-winning actress was reportedly suffering from age-related illnesses. Several film personalities have conveyed their condolences on social media.

Saroja Devi dies at 87

Saroja Devi, who had acted in Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu films, was one of the formidable names from the South during the 1950s and 1960s. She has even acted in Hindi. The veteran actress breathed her last in Bengaluru on Monday morning, the media reports have said.

The actress who made her debut with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955, was known as ‘Abhinaya Saraswathi’ and ‘Kannadathu Paingili’. And she shot to fame after she starred opposite the legendary actor MG Ramachandran (MGR) in the Tamil film Nadodi Mannan in 1958.

She has acted in more than 200 films, across languages. Some of her popular films include Palum Pazhamum, Kalyana Parisu, Anbe Vaa, School Master, Seetarama Kalyanam, Thirudathe and Panathottam, among several others. In Hindi, she was featured in films such as Paigham, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, and Sasural.

Her other famous co-stars include the iconic Sivaji Ganesan, the stalwarts NT Rama Rao, and Shammi Kapoor. For her exemplary work in cinema, she was honoured with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the government.

Condolences pour in

Film stars, fans and other personalities from various walks of life have shared their condolences over the demise of the veteran star. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, several leaders condoled her demise. Tamil superstar Rajinikanth, Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar, actors Simran, Madhoo and Khushbu Sundar were among those who paid rich tributes to the legendary actress.

Popular south actress Simran, who was recently in the hit Tamil film Tourist Family, mourned the loss of the veteran actress on social media. "The iconic Saroja Devi amma is no more, but her legacy in Indian cinema will remain eternal. I was blessed to share the screen with her in Once More, a moment of pride that feels even more precious today," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter), paying her deepest respects.

Another south actress and politician Khushbu Sundar too put up a post on X, saying, “An era gold golden cinema comes to an end."

Calling her 'the greatest of all times', Khushbu said "No other female actor in south has ever enjoyed the name and fame as her. Such a lovable adorable soul she was. Had a great rapport with her. My trip to Bengaluru was incomplete without meeting her. And whenever in chennai, she would call. Will miss her immensely."

Earlier this week, veteran Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao died at the age of 83 in Hyderabad on Sunday.

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