B. Saroja Devi

Some Lesser Known Facts About B. Saroja Devi

• B. Saroja Devi grew up in Bangalore.

  

• She was the youngest of four daughters in her family.

• It was Saroja’s father who encouraged her to pursue acting and also insisted that she learn classical dance.

• As a kid, Saroja Devi would often go to studios with her father, who would lovingly tie her salangais (ankle bells worn for classical dance) and massage her feet after long dance sessions.

• When Saroja was 13, filmmaker B.R. Krishnamurthy saw her singing at an event and offered her a role, but she politely refused, as she was not ready to enter films yet.

  

• In 1957, Saroja Devi appeared as ‘Yavvanamohini’ in the Kannada language film ‘Rathnagiri Rahasya.’ That same year, she played the role of young Mohini in the Tamil film ‘Thangamalai Ragasiyam,’ where she also performed a dance sequence.

  

• Saroja gained recognition in the Kannada film industry with notable performances in films like ‘Chintamani’ (1957), ‘School Master’ (1958), and ‘Jagajyothi Basveshwara’ (1959).

  

• Saroja Devi debuted in Telugu cinema with the film ‘Panduranga Mahatyam’ (1957), where actress Krishna Kumari dubbed her voice. Eventually, Saroja learned the language and started dubbing for herself in later films.

• She worked in many other Telugu films, including ‘Bhookailas’ (1958), ‘Sita Rama Kalyanam’ (1961), ‘Amarasilpi Jakkanna’ (1964), ‘Nireekshana’ (1986), ‘Alludu Diddina Kapuram’ (1991), and ‘Samrat Ashoka’ (1992).

  

• Over time, Saroja Devi became one of the highest-paid actresses in both the Kannada and Telugu film industries.

• Saroja rose to prominence in Tamil cinema after starring in the 1958 film ‘Nadodi Mannan,’ directed by M. G. Ramachandran. She appeared as ‘Rathna’ in the film.

  

• In 1958, Saroja Devi was cast as Manimekalai in M.G. Ramachandran’s ambitious adaptation of a historical fiction novel titled ‘Ponniyin Selvan,’ but the film was shelved midway and never completed.

• Saroja went on to work with leading Tamil actors like Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran, and Gemini Ganesan.

  

• Saroja Devi and MGR formed a hit pair. The duo starred together in 26 consecutive box office hits.

  

• In 1958, Saroja Devi appeared in a Tamil film titled ‘Sengottai Singam,’ marking the 25th film of her career.

  

• She appeared in several other popular films, such as ‘Kalyana Parisu’ (1959), ‘Thirudadhe’ (1961), ‘Periya Idathu Penn’ (1963), ‘Anbe Vaa’ (1966), ‘Ponmana Selvan’ (1989), and ‘Aadhavan’ (2009).

  

• In 1959, she made her debut in Hindi cinema with the film ‘Paigham,’ which starred renowned actors like Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

  

• In the 1960s, Saroja Devi primarily worked in romantic films; however, from the late 1960s to the 1980s, she appeared in emotional and socially meaningful films.

• In 1963, Saroja played the role of ‘Shantha’ in the Tamil film ‘Iruvar Ullam,’ which marked the 50th film of her career.

  

• In 1965, Saroja Devi starred as ‘Saraswathi’ in the Tamil film ‘Thaayum Magalum,’ which marked the 75th film of her career.

  

• In 1967, ‘Pen Endral Pen’ marked Saroja’s 100th appearance on screen. She played the role of ‘Usha’ in this Tamil film.

  

• After her marriage in 1967 and the growing popularity of actresses like J. Jayalalithaa and K. R. Vijaya, Saroja Devi’s pairing with actor M.G. Ramachandran (aka MGR) came to an end.

  

• After 1968, she gradually stepped back from Tamil films and became more involved in Kannada cinema.

• In 1969, Saroja Devi appeared as ‘Ganga’ in the Tamil film Thangamalar. It was her 125th film.

  

• Saroja withdrew from the film ‘Ladies Hostel’ in 1985 after her husband’s health declined. After he died in 1986,  she took a year-long break from acting and avoided social interactions.

• Saroja Devi got back to work in 1987, and ‘Ladies Hostel’ turned out to be a hit. Despite its success, she decided not to act in any more films afterwards.

• Between 1987 and 1990, eight of her previously signed films, including ‘Thaimel Aanai’ and ‘Dharma Devan’, hit the screens. These were projects she had agreed to before 1986.

• In 1989, Saroja featured in the Tamil film ‘Dharma Devan.’ This marked her 150th film.

  

• In 1993, Saroja Devi appeared as ‘Meenakshi’ in the Tamil film ‘Paarambariyam,’ which was her 175th screen appearance.

• Saroja Devi contributed beyond the screen by serving as Chairperson of the National Film Awards Jury in 1998 and 2005, acting as Vice-President of the Kannada Chalanachitra Sangha, and being part of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s local advisory panel.

• In 2007, Saroja Devi appeared as a school principal in the Kannada short film ‘Prarambha.’

• Saroja worked in nearly 200 films across multiple languages, including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi, in a career spanning over seven decades.

• In 2010, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan introduced the ‘Padma Bhushan B. Saroja Devi National Award’ to honour lifetime achievements in the performing arts annually.

• Saroja also appeared in a few television shows, including ‘Kodeeswari’ (2020), which aired on Colors Tamil.

  

• In 2021, actress Regina Cassandra portrayed B. Saroja Devi in the Hindi-Tamil bilingual film ‘Thalaivii’.

• Saroja Devi had a few personal rules she stuck to, like avoiding swimsuits and sleeveless blouses in her films. Her mother set these rules, and Saroja followed them throughout her career.

• Saroja became a fashion icon for many women during her time. Fans widely imitated her elegant sarees, matching blouses, and stylish hairdos.

  

• On 14 July 2025, B. Saroja Devi passed away at the age of 87 at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, due to age-related health issues. As per her wish, her eyes were donated to Narayana Nethralaya in Bengaluru.

• Her last rites were held on 15 July 2025, in her native village of Dasavara, Channapatna taluk, Ramanagara district, Karnataka, following Vokkaliga customs.