Veteran Tamil actor and filmmaker Vijaya Nirmala dies at 75

Veteran Telugu actor-filmmaker Vijaya Nirmala, who had starred in over 200 films and had directed 44 films in her illustrious career of over three decades, breathed her last on Thursday at Continental Hospital, Hyderabad where she was undergoing treatment for a while. According to media reports, the 75-year-old star died due to natural causes related old age.

Vijaya Nirmala made her acting debut at the age of five as a child artist in 1950 Tamil film Machcha Rekkai and by age of 11 she made her Telugu debut with the film Panduranga Mahatmyam. She rose to stardom when she starred opposite Prem Nazir in 1964 Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam, and went on to work again with him in Udhyogastha.

As a leading lady, she made her Telugu debut with Rangula Ratnam alongside Vanisri and Anjali Devi. In 1967, she starred in Telugu film Saakshi and it’s on the sets of this film she met actor Krishna with whom she worked in 47 films and eventually ended up marrying. However, it was her second wedding.