Kannada TV actor Rashmi Leela dies at 37 despite lung transplant

Bengaluru: Kannada television actor Rashmi Leela (37) has passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru for lung-related ailments. The news of her death came to light through a heartfelt note shared on social media by her husband, Sarakki Manju.
 

Rashmi had been undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis for the past seven years. As her condition worsened, it progressed to pulmonary fibrosis, a severe and life-threatening complication that affects the lungs by causing damage to lung tissue. For the past year, she had been dependent on an oxygen cylinder for daily survival.

As the cost of her treatment mounted beyond what the family could afford, colleagues from the Kannada film and television industry stepped in with financial assistance. A lung transplant surgery, carried out at a cost of approximately ₹19 lakh, was successfully completed, raising hopes that she would return to a new phase of life.

However, post-surgical complications led to her death.

She is survived by her husband and their daughter. Several prominent personalities from the Kannada film and television industry paid tribute to the actor.