The demise of veteran actor Saroja Devi has taken the Indian film industry by grief and shock. Actor Simran, who debuted with Once More in Tamil, got the opportunity to star alongside the experienced artist in her very first film and has only warm things to recollect about the star.
Going back to her Once More days, Simran shares, "I was blessed to act with her in my very first Tamil film. She was such a warm and kind human being. I never once felt like I was working with a legend. She treated me with such ease and familiarity. She taught me how to wear makeup, how to deliver my lines... those moments are unforgettable."
Like others, Simran too reiterates the humility that defined Saroja Devi. "To have had the opportunity to work with someone so humble and grounded—what a performer she was, and what presence she carried. It's unbelievable that she's no longer with us. We've truly lost someone special. All of her movies were iconic, and she was a legendary actor who worked alongside legends. She was one of the earliest pan-Indian stars, even before we had a name for it."
While she learnt from Saroja Devi on the sets of Once More, Simran also says that the erstwhile star was her role model growing up. "I grew up watching her films—her style, the way she wore her saree, her signature bindi, that little flick of hair on her forehead... she was a complete trendsetter."
While they officially only worked on film together, Simran's relationship with Saroja Devi extended off the screen. "Even after Once More, I had the chance to speak to her a couple of times over the phone. She would ask about my health and family. She always kept that personal connection alive. There was never anything formal or distant about her. She was incredibly down-to-earth and made everyone feel welcome, whether it was on set or in conversation."
About the legacy Saroja Devi has left behind, Simran says, "Even though she hadn’t acted in many films recently, her presence was always felt. She was like a guardian angel watching over all of us female actors who came after her. She set a benchmark for actors like me. She worked with MGR, sir, and Sivaji, sir, and delivered back-to-back hits. With a grief-stricken voice, she concludes by saying, "There’s a deep void now. Her absence is truly felt."
In S A Chandrasekhar's Once More, Simran starred as Vijay's love interest, while Saroja Devi starred alongside Sivaji Ganesan. The 1997 rom-com also incorporated footage from Iruvar Ullam (1963) as flashback scenes of Sivaji and Saroja. The film was further remade in Telugu as Daddy Daddy.
