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My key to a fangirl momentMay you be in the eternal light, Saroja Devi. Handing me my car keys was probably a forgotten blip in your busy life, but one fan carries that memory in her heart forever.
Deepa Mohan
Last Updated IST
<div class="paragraphs"><p>Veteran filmstar B Saroja Devi </p></div>

Veteran filmstar B Saroja Devi

Credit: Dh Photo/ Krishna Kumar P S

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It is not often that one, as a VOP (Very Ordinary Person), comes face-to-face with celebrities. But there is an incident that lives on in
my memory.

I was at Bengaluru airport (the old HAL one); I frequently went there to drop off or pick up my spouse, who travelled a lot for work. 

That particular day, I was hanging around the arrival area, and without realising it, I had dropped my car keys. Suddenly, I heard a sweet voice asking me, in Kannada, “Idu nimdaa?” (Is this yours?) I turned and first looked at the keys and recognised them. Extending my hand in a combination of embarrassment at having dropped them and happiness at having them found, I looked up into a very beautiful face. 

Movie stars do not always look as beautiful in person as they do on screen, but there was no mistaking the beauty of this one. My mouth formed a wordless “O” of surprise. Before I could speak, the star smiled again...bewitchingly...and said, “Yes, that’s who I am! So have you seen my films?” 

“Of course!” I answered, finally finding my voice. “I am a huge fan of yours...like many thousands of others! I have seen only one or two of your Kannada films, but I have seen almost all your Tamil films.”

The star smiled again. “Happy to have met you,” she said. I suddenly thought of an autograph and scrambled in my handbag and brought out a small notebook in which I kept my daily accounts. And (miracle of miracles!) a pen that worked. I held the notebook on my bag, and the star signed.

By this time, we were surrounded by a crowd, many of whom were definitely envious that I had managed to speak to the celebrity; others, like me, were marvelling at her simple approach. I had to yield, of course, but managed to thank the luminary and convey my good wishes. 

Of course I never met this superstar again, but I watched many more of
her movies. 

A couple of days ago, halfway around the world, I opened my ePaper and saw the news that this star had gone to the celestial galaxy. I had always felt that apart from being a celebrity, this star was also a good human being. I sent up a prayer from my heart, to the eternal stars, for this star whose light shone on me, briefly, all those years ago.

May you be in the eternal light, Saroja Devi. Handing me my car keys was probably a forgotten blip in your busy life, but one fan carries that memory in her heart forever. I will look at your talent and your beauty again and again in various movies and pray that you rest in peace. 

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(Published 17 July 2025, 00:39 IST)