The 1980s redefined and transformed Indian cinema in unforgettable ways by merging intense commercial masala,, melodramatic family dramas,
Among them stood Saritha, an actress whose intensity cut across languages. She ruled the screen with ease and earned respect through her craft. Yet, behind the applause, her personal life carried deep wounds that stayed hidden for decades.
Film “Maro Charitra” with Kamal Haasan was Saritha’s rise as a formidable performer
and a turning point in her career. The film was the directorial of legend K.Balachander. The film turned out to be a landmark, and her performance was memorable. The success opened doors to strong, women-centric roles. Films like ‘Agni Sakshi’, ‘Kalyana Agathigal’, and ‘Achamillai Achamillai’ cemented her reputation as an actress of rare depth.
Conquering multiple industries Saritha
never limited herself to one language. Across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema, she left a strong imprint. Telugu audiences admired her in films like ‘Idi Katha Kaadu’ and ‘Kaliyuga Pandavulu’.
In Malayalam cinema, she often shared screen space with Mammootty, playing emotionally complex roles in films such as ‘Thaniyavarthanam’ and ‘Kuttettan’. Kannada cinema also embraced her strength in films like ‘Chalisuva Modagalu’.
Awards, dubbing, and lasting impact of
Saritha’s performances earned critical acclaim. She won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress three times and received multiple Filmfare Awards. Even following her exit from
on-screen acting after divorce, her voice continued to command respect. She emerged as one of the most sought-after dubbing artistes in Indian cinema, lending her voice to actresses such as Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Ramya Krishnan, and Soundarya. Her emotional command made her voice work as powerful as her screen presence.
The year 1998 saw marriage, silence, and years of trauma for Saritha when at the peak of her career tied the knot to Mukesh and stepped away from cinema. The couple later had two sons and separated in 2001. Their divorce was finalised in 2011. In 2013, Mukesh married dancer Methil Devika, a marriage that also ended in divorce.
Years later, Saritha recounted on the pain she endured in an interview. Reflecting on her silence, she said, she was ashamed to tell what she had experienced. She couldn’t believe what was happening to her. She has acted in movies and has seen all this in movies. But never thought or even imagined all that would happen in her life. She also alleged infidelity, adding, amid all the familial issues, he maintained affairs with many. She merely hoped that he would learn from the mistakes committed and return to her.
Saritha spoke with intense respect about Mukesh’s father, theatre legend O. Madhavan, and revealed why she never approached the police. Following her father’s demise, she started seeing Mukesh’s father as her own,” and had given him an assurance. That’s why she never knocked at the doors of a police station to lodge a complaint.complaint She had kept that assurance until his death.
Recalling a painful moment, she shared, “once, when his father came to Thiruvananthapuram for tax matters, he came to pick her up. At the airport, he told her ‘Let’s go home.’ she said she wasn’t coming and that had booked a room in an hotel.
She continued, “He then held her hands and said he knew what she was reeling through and that he knew his son was wrong. However, he requested that this should not come up in the media and kept that promise till today.
She later described severe physical abuse, including amid pregnancy. When was pregnant, he kicked her in the stomach and she fell into the yard. She cried. In such situations, he would say, ‘Oh… you are a good actress… go on, cry,’” she said, recalling moments of fear and humiliation.
Now after years as a single mother, Saritha slowly rebuilt her life. Acting roles remained limited, but her strength endured. In 2023, she made a dignified comeback in ‘Maaveeran’, directed by Madonne Ashwin, alongside Sivakarthikeyan and Aditi Shankar.
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News Edit KV Raman
