Full Name Leela Kiran Website Personal website Years active 1958–present Siblings Pandari Bai, Mynavathi | Name Leela Kiran Children Vinod Raj Role Film actress | |
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Occupation Actress, film producer, writer, philanthropist Movies Gejje Pooje, Sipayi Ramu, Veera Kesari, Upasane, Devara Gudi | ||
Leelavathi (born Leela Kiran in 1937) is a Kannada film actress who predominantly worked in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu. She has acted with actors such as Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, M. G. Ramachandran, N. T. Rama Rao, Sivaji Ganeshan, Gemini Ganesan, Shankar Nag, Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, V Ravichandran, Sudeep and various popular artists. She has acted in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone) throughout her career for more than 50 years. Her performance in Nagarahavu, Avargal are remembered and prominent among the people.
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Leelavathi has won various awards throughout her career, including the "Rajkumar Award" in 1999, State awards and Filmfare Awards.
Film career
After moving to Mysore, she got a small role in Chanchala Kumari and then in Shanker Singh film Naga Kannika. She joined the Mahalinga Bhagavathar team Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama troupe. She got a chance to act in Subbainaidu ‘Bhakta Prahallada. Mangalya Yoga, Dharma Vijaya and Ranadheera Kanteerava she got paltry roles. It was from Rani Honnamma, Leelavathi became the heroine and never turned back. Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari, Mana Mecchida Madadi. She proved her mettle as a competitive heroine. Even when started accepting the supporting actress the power of acting was more graduated with films like Gejje Pooje, Sipayi Ramu and Doctor Krishna for which she received the state award.
As actress
Awards and recognitions
- Maduve Maadi Nodu
- Santha Thukaram
Karnataka State Film Awards
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006
Health
She was hospitalised on 15 October 2011, and had sustained heart problem. An operation was carried on, and she recovered from it. Her reports of hospitalization was concealed by her son Vinod Raj, but later it came into light by TV9 News report telecasted on 25 October.