Saroja Devi Remained Unmarried After Husband's Early Demise, 'I Couldn't Think Of Anyone Else...'

Hailed as the first superstar of the Kannada film industry, Saroja Devi was one of the top actresses in South India. With a career of over seven decades, Saroja was the only heroine who played the lead role in 161 consecutive films. Saroja Devi had 26 back-to-back hit films with MGR, which included films like Thaai Sollai Thathadhe, Thaayai Katha Thanayan, Kudumba Thalaivan, Dharmam Thalaikakkum and Needhi Pin Pasam.

There was hardly any superstar in the Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu industries with whom Saroja didn’t work. Be it Paigam alongside Dilip Kumar, Thangamalai Ragasiyam with Sivaji Ganesan, Seetarama Kalyanam with NTR or Kudumba Thalaivan with MGR, Saroja was the only actress who was paid equal to her male co-star.

Such was her stardom that despite getting married, Saroja remained the highest-paid actress of the South Indian film industry. It was in 1967 when Saroja Devi married Sri Harsha, who became the biggest supporter of her craft.

Why did Saroja Devi refuse to remarry after her husband’s early demise?

When Saroja married Sri Harsha, the actress was facing issues while managing her finances, and it was Sri Harsha who helped her overcome them. In 1985, Saroja Devi’s husband, Sri Harsha, fell sick and passed away in 1986. The actress not just stopped working but also stopped meeting people for over a year.

In 1987, she resumed shooting and completed all the films she accepted before her husband’s death. She refused to sign more films and took a break for five years, and only returned to the silver screen after the producer’s insistence. After her husband’s death, Saroja opposed the idea of remarriage and revealed the reason behind it. She said:

“After my husband’s demise at a young age, a lot of people told me to remarry. I said ‘no’, and I couldn’t think of anyone else in his place. I was confident that I could manage my life without a male companion.”

Saroja Devi’s husband didn’t stop her from acting after being inspired by Dilip Kumar

After her marriage, Saroja was asked to stop acting by her mother, but the actress didn’t do so. Citing how her husband was convinced that she should act, Saroja once told a leading publication:

“Dilip Kumar once said he has asked Saira Banu to not to stop acting. The story was mentioned by Rajesh Khanna to my husband, Sri Harsha, not to stop me from acting.”

When Saroja Devi spoke about her immense love for MGR

MG Ramachandran and B Saroja Devi are one of the most memorable onscreen pairs in the South cinema and have given several hits together. Her love and respect for MGR knew no bounds as she called him anbu daivam (lovable God). In an interview with Frontline, Saroja Devi recalled an incident where MGR scolded a co-star for offering Saroja a drink. In her words:

“We were shooting in Ooty. It was extremely cold and another woman artiste offered me a drink, saying it would keep me warm. MGR overheard the conversation, took that actress aside and apparently gave her a dressing down. She came back sweating in that chill weather.”

Saroja Devi’s death

Saroja has acted in more than 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. On July 14, 2025, Saroja Devi breathed her last and bid adieu to the world at the age of 87. She had been suffering from age-related health issues. 

Saroja Devi was not just a versatile actress, but a devoted wife too. What do you think? Let us know.

Also Read: Trisha Krishnan And Vijay Didn't Work Together For 15 Years Despite Being A Popular Pair, Here's Why

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