‘Was great asset to Karnataka’: BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai condoles demise of actress B Saroja Devi

BENGALURU: Gadag-Haveri BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai on Monday expressed condolences on demise of legendary actress B Saroja Devi. Recalling her contributions to the Kannada film industry, Bommai said that she was a “superstar” in her heydays and was a “great asset” to the state and the film industry.

“She was a superstar in her heydays. She started her career in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. She acted with all the superstars of those days… She has won Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan… She was very lively even in her last days. She was a great asset to Karnataka and the Karnataka film industry. I hope she lives forever through her talent and acting…” the BJP MP told reporters.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On the demise of veteran Kannada actor Saroja Devi, BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai says, “She was a superstar in her heydays. She started her career in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. She acted with all the superstars of those days… She has… pic.twitter.com/MVKQif2Poc

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2025

Saroja Devi, who has acted in about 200 films in Tamil Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films over seven decades, passed away at the age of 87. Earlier today, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid tribute to the late actress.

In a social media post on X, he said, “The news of the passing of senior Kannada actress B Saroja Devi has caused deep sorrow. She had acted in approximately 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, earning fame as the goddess of acting. The moment one mentions Sarojadevi, her captivating performances in films like Kittur Chennamma, Babruvahana, and Annathangi come to mind,” he wrote on X.

Siddaramaiah added, “Her departure, having entertained audiences for decades through refined films, is a significant loss to Indian cinema. I pray that Sarojadevi’s soul finds peace. My condolences to her grieving family and fans”, he wrote on X.

Sarojadevi got her big break with her Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955). She made her Telugu film debut with Pandurang Mahathyam (1957) and acted in several successful films until the late 1970s. The Tamil film Nadodi Mannan (1958) established her as one of the top actresses in Tamil cinema.

After her marriage in 1967, she remained the second most sought-after actress in Tamil films until 1974, while she continued to be a top actress in Telugu and Kannada cinema from 1958 to 1980. She also acted in Hindi films, starting with Paigham (1959) until the mid-1960s. She acted in 161 consecutive films as the female lead between 1955 and 1984.

Born on January 7, 1938, in Bengaluru, she acted with Dr. Rajkumar, Kalyankumar, and Udayakumar in Kannada. In Telugu, she acted with A. Nageswara Rao, N.T. Rama Rao. In Tamil, she acted with Gemini Ganesan, Sivaji Ganesan in 22 hit films, and with M.G. Ramachandran in 26 hit films. Sarojadevi, who acted in Hindi alongside Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, and Sunil Dutt.

Sarojadevi was awarded the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1992. She also received an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University and the Kalaimamani Award of Tamil Nadu. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. (ANI)