Veteran Malayalam actor KPAC Lalitha passed away in Kochi. She was 74. She had been ailing for some time.

Born Maheshwari in Alappuzha in 1948, she attained the moniker KPAC Lalitha after joining the drama troupe KPAC (Kerala People's Arts Club). The name remained with her through her entry into movies, and she later came to be popularly known by it.

She made her acting debut in 1969 in KS Sethumadhavan's Koottukudumbam, an adaptation of Thoppil Bhasi's play of the same name. It was followed by a successful array of movies beginning with Ningalenne Communistakki, Othenente Makal and many others.

Interestingly, in her 1971 film, Anubhavangal Paalichakal, Mammootty made his acting debut as a junior artiste. In 1972, she starred in a notable role in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's National award-winning feature, Swayamvaram.

Following a brief hiatus post her marriage to acclaimed filmmaker Bharathan in 1978, she returned with Bharathan's Kattathe Kilikkoodu (1983). She later went on to deliver popular performances in films such as Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Ponn Muttyidunna Tharavu (1988), Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988), Vadakku Nokki Yanthram (1989), Dasharatham (1989), Venkalam (1993), Godfather (1991), Amaram (1991), Vietnam Colony (1993), Pavithram (1993), Manichitrathazhu (1994), Sphadikam (1995), and Aniyathi Pravu (1997).
 
Notably, her performance in Amaram, directed by her husband, fetched a National award for Best Supporting Actress. She would win her second National award for Best Supporting Actress award in 2000's Shantham, directed by Jayaraj.

Lalitha also starred in the Tamil films Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Alaipayuthey (2000) and Kaatru Veliyidai (2017).
 
She won four Kerala State Film Awards for Second Best Actress for the films, Neela Ponman, Onnum Lelle; Aaravam, Amaram; Kadinjool Kalyanam, Godfather, and Sandhesam.

She is survived by her children, filmmaker Sidharth Bharathan and daughter Sreekutty.