Legendary Kannada film actress Leelvathi dies at 85; PM Modi pays condolences

Several notable figures from various quarters including politicians, fellow film industry veterans and fans expressed condolences on social media sites.

Published on: Dec 9, 2023, 11:38:47 IST

By Yamini C S

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Legendary Kannada film actress Leelavathi passed away at age 85 in a private hospital near Bengaluru's Nelamangala area on Friday evening. She reportedly died due to age-related ailments, according to news agency ANI.

The late actor worked over the span of 50 years in more than 600 movies across south Indian languages Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.

Leelavathi has starred in iconic roles in films such as “Bhaktha Kumbhara”, “Ranadheera Kanteerava”, “Kulavadhu” and “Veerakesari”, with her most celebrated collaboration being with noted Kannada film actor Dr Rajkumar. She has played a range of roles along with Rajkumar, from being his on-screen daughter, sister, wife, sister-in-law, and even mother-in-law.

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The late actor worked over the span of 50 years in more than 600 movies across south Indian languages Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. She was conferred with the Dr Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award from the Karnataka state government.

Several notable figures from various quarters including politicians, fellow film industry veterans and fans expressed condolences on social media sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to micro-blogging site ‘X’, and said, “Saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary Kannada film personality Leelavathi Ji. A true icon of cinema, she graced the silver screen with her versatile acting in numerous films. Her diverse roles and remarkable talent will always be remembered and admired. My thoughts are with her family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also mourned the news, saying, “Last week, after hearing about her illness, I visited her home and inquired about her health and talked to her son Vinod Raj... I pray for her soul to rest in peace.”

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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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