Actor Vatsala Rajagopal passes away at 93

VATSALA RAJAGOPALAN. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

Actor Vatsala Rajagopal, best known for her roles in films such as Roja, Sathi Leelavathi, Rhythm, Julie Ganapathi, and countless other films, passed away in Chennai on Friday, October 30, 2026. She was 93.

According to reports, Vatsala passed away due to age-related ailments. Her mortal remains have been kept at her residence in Pallavaram for visitors to pay their homage.

Vatsala, who hails from Trivandrum, started as a theatre performer in the 1970s as part of the theatre group Rasika Ranga. In an interview with The Hindu in 2004 (when she was awarded the Nataka Choodamani of the Krishna Gana Sabha), Vatsala recounted how she got her big break. After moving to Madras in 1953, Vatsala joined the AG’s office, where her colleague K. Balachander (the late acclaimed filmmaker) would offer her roles in his plays and serials.