The Indian film industry is grief-stricken by the demise of veteran actor B Saroja Devi. Having starred in more than 200 films, Saroja Devi was one of the earliest female pan-Indian stars, having starred in films across the Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi industries.
Still in a state of shock, actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar says her relationship with Saroja Devi is 25 years long. "I’ve known her for more than 25 years. This is a very personal loss to me," the actor says with grief.
Khushbu further recollects the relationship she shared with the veteran actor. "Saroja amma would always love to show me her jewels. I was never into diamonds before, but she was the one who pushed me into buying them. She would say, ‘You can’t keep wearing just gold—you have to buy diamonds too!’ Every time I was in Bangalore, I would make sure to visit her. And whenever she was in Chennai, she would call me, and I’d go see her. We went to many events together. She was such a warm and adorable person, full of love."
The actor further calls her one of the earliest women superstars in the Indian film industry. "She never behaved like a superstar. But when you talk about women superstars of South Indian cinema, she was the one. She simultaneously worked with both MGR and Sivaji—and they wanted her. She was among the earliest pan-Indian actors, but she never moved away from Chennai. I once asked her why, when so many had shifted to Mumbai. She said, ‘I did a couple of films there, but I didn’t like it. I love being in the South.’ She was very rooted."
For Khushbu, the thought of not being able to speak to her one more time causes her utmost grief. "She would always tell me, ‘I'm so happy to see you so well settled. You take such good care of your family.’ She’d even call her daughter and say, ‘Learn from her; see how she takes care of her family.’ It’s a huge loss for me. I’m currently in Hyderabad, and the news came as a rude shock. I was just thinking of calling her, since I’m heading to Bangalore. We spoke often, even when we didn’t meet. She would suddenly call and ask, ‘How are you? When are you coming? How’s your mom? How are the kids?’ And if I ever called and she missed it, she’d always call back."
"I’m going to miss calling her and speaking to her. For someone like me, who came from Mumbai, to have such a close bond with one of South India’s greatest female actors… it’s something I could never have imagined," says Khushbu as she concludes with a quiver in her voice.
Khushbu is one of the first from the Tamil film industry to mourn the demise of the late actor. She wrote on X, "An era of golden cinema comes to an end. #SarojaDevi Amma was the greatest of all time. No other female actor in the South has ever enjoyed the name and fame that she has. Such a lovable, adorable soul she was. Had a great rapport with her. My trip to Bengaluru was incomplete without meeting her. And whenever in Chennai, she would call. Will miss her immensely. Rest in peace, Amma. Om Shanti."
