Veteran Kannada actress Kishori Ballal, who had acted in over 75 movies and left an indelible mark with her role in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Swades, died on Tuesday at the age of 82.
The actress passed away due to age-related ailments at a private hospital in Bengaluru, family sources said.
Born in Dakshina Kannada district, Ballal made acting debut with 1960’s Ivalentha Hendathi and in her five-decade-long career, she worked in over 75 movies across different languages such as Kahi, Hani Hani, Suryakanthi, Carry On Maratha and Quick Gun Murugun.
In the Hindi film industry, Ballal is best known for playing Kaveri Amma, a motherly figure to Shah Rukh’s Mohan Bhargava in Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2004 critically-acclaimed feature Swades.
She also appeared in Rani Mukerji’s Aiyyaa and Deepika Padukone’s Lafangey Parindey.
She was married to Bharatnatyam dancer N Sripathi Ballal.
Soon after her demise, Gowariker posted a tribute to the veteran actress on Twitter.
“Heartbroken! Terribly sad about the passing away of #KishoriBallal ji. Kishori ji… you will be remembered for your generously kind, warm and affable persona! And your unforgettable performance as #Kaveriamma in #Swades !! You will surely be missed,” the director tweeted.
HEARTBROKEN! 😥
Terribly sad about the passing away of #KishoriBallal ji!!
Kishori ji… you will be remembered for your generously kind, warm and affable persona!
And your unforgettable performance as #Kaveriamma in #Swades !!
You will surely be missed!! 🙇♂️ pic.twitter.com/DIAlnhLOgu— Ashutosh Gowariker (@AshGowariker) February 18, 2020
Popular Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar tweeted, “Veteran artist Kishori Ballal amma is no more, RIP.”
Veteran artist Kishori Ballal amma is no more, RIP
— Puneeth Rajkumar (@PuneethRajkumar) February 18, 2020