She was born in 1945 to the Bhairappa-Rudramma couple. Bhairappa worked in the police department. She made a humble beginning in Bangalore and it was her mother who nurtured her talents.

She got married on March 1 1967. Her husband Sri Harsha, a learned person, was an Engineer by profession. She had learnt many things from him. He looked at life positively and also had a helping disposition. While she had learnt discipline from her parents, it was Harsha who taught her �to take life as it comes� and look forward for positive developments. Harsha had a strong influence on her.

Known for her philanthropic and societal consciousness, she has organized many donation camps in the name of her late husband Sri Harsha, daughter Bhuvaneshwari and her mother. Charitable Trusts, rehabilitation centers and health programmes organized by her stand evidence to her immense concern towards the society.

She was first spotted by Honnappa Bhagavathar while she was singing at a function at the age of 13. Initially, she declined his offer to act in movies. She debuted with the Kannada film �Mahaakavi Kaalidas� in 1955-56, which went on to win the National Award

She has acted in more than 170 films in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu. She won the Padma Sri award , Abhinandana -Kanchana Maala� award , Karnataka Government�s Rajyothsava award , Padma Bhushan ,Filmfare award for All-round Achievement,Tamilnadu Government�s MGR award, Cinema Express award , NTR award and the Dinakaran award for All-round Achievement.

Today a senior citizen of Kannada filmdom, she is one of the first Kannada female artistes to spread the aroma of Kannada cinema all over the country. Her histrionic range is so vast that she has portrayed an amazing variety of roles in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films. She become a favourite leading lady of three major Tamil heroes of the day - Sivaji Ganesan, MGR and Gemini Ganesh, along with whom she was responsible for many classics. Who can forget her roles in Nadodi Mannan, Kalyana Parisu, Sabhash meena, Bagappirivinai, Padagotti, Enga Veettu pillai, Nadodi and Anbe Vaa?

Yes, Chennaionline congratulates the Government of India for selecting B Saroja Devi and three other eminent film personalities for the �one time award for life-time achievement� to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India�s independence.