Bengaluru: Indian cinema is mourning the loss of B Saroja Devi, one of its most iconic and beloved stars, who passed away at the age of 87. Often hailed as the first female superstar of Kannada cinema, she made her debut in Mahakavi Kalidasa in 1955 and rose to stardom with MG Ramachandran in Nadodi Mannan (1958).

Her illustrious career spanned Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, with notable pairings alongside legends like Sivaji Ganesan, N.T. Rama Rao, and Rajkumar. She acted in a record 161 consecutive lead roles between 1955 and 1984. Saroja Devi was honoured with Padma Shri (1969), Padma Bhushan (1992), and the Kalaimamani Award, among many others.

Fondly called “Kannadathu Paingili” and “Abhinaya Saraswathi”, she was admired for her grace, fashion, and dignity. She continued to mentor younger artists and serve on film juries even after retirement.

Her passing marks the end of a golden chapter in Indian cinema, but her legacy as a trailblazer and timeless star will endure.