Legendary South Indian actress B. Saroja Devi, affectionately known as Abhinaya Saraswathi, passed away at the age of 87 at her residence in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, due to age-related ailments.
Her demise has left the Indian film industry and admirers across the country in deep mourning.
Leading the tributes, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin expressed heartfelt condolences, stating that Saroja Devi was a âtowering figure in Tamil cinemaâ whose screen presence and timeless performances inspired generations. He fondly recalled her contribution to Tamil culture and cinema, noting her memorable roles alongside icons like MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, and Gemini Ganesan.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also paid rich tributes on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting her contributions to cinema in multiple languages â Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi â and praised her unforgettable roles in films like Kittur Chennamma, Babruvahana, and Anna Thangi. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai also remembered her portrayal of historical characters with grace and depth.
Rajinikanth described her as an artist who “won the hearts of millions of fans.”
Actress Khushbu Sundar called her passing “the end of a golden era,” recalling the actressâs immense popularity and their warm personal connection.
Karnataka Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar, opposition leader R. Ashoka, and others joined in mourning the loss of one of Indian cinemaâs most revered stars.