B Saroja Devi laid to rest near Bengaluru with full state honours. 5 facts you should know about the iconic film actress

B Saroja Devi, the revered Indian actress known for her powerful roles, was honoured with full state rites in her native village after her passing at age 87.

Published on: Jul 16, 2025, 13:55:19 IST

By Yamini C S, Bengaluru

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Veteran Indian actress B Saroja Devi, a well known figure in Indian cinema, was laid to rest with full state honours in her native village of Dashavara in Bengaluru South district on Tuesday. The 87-year-old screen legend passed away on July 14 at her home in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, due to age-related ailments, news agency PTI reported.

B Saroja Devi died at the age of 87 due to age-related ailments. (PTI)

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Her final rites were conducted according to Vokkaliga traditions, drawing hundreds of mourners, including political leaders, film industry veterans, and fans. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar led the tributes, accompanied by noted figures such as actress Jayamala, producer Rockline Venkatesh, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce President M Narasimhalu, and producer Basant Kumar Patil, the agency stated.

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Here are five key facts you need to know about B Saroja Devi:

She was born on January 7, 1938, in Bengaluru, and came to be known as one of the most beloved actresses in Indian cinema, celebrated for her grace, poise, and commanding screen presence.
She starred in over 180 films across languages such as Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, including iconic Kannada films like Bhagyavantharu and Babruvahana, played along with the legendary Dr Rajkumar.
She was a recipient of many prestigious awards including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and the Dr Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award.
She was known for powerful roles in films like Sasural, Kittur Rani Chennamma, and Enga Veettu Pillai.
She made her debut in 1955 with the Kannada film Mahakavi Kalidasa at age 17 and soon got the crown as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema.

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Renowned for portraying strong female characters in period dramas with depth and dignity, her passing drew condolences from across India, including heartfelt tributes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and film industry stalwarts.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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