Veteran actress Vatsala Rajagopal, best known for her memorable grandmother roles in Tamil cinema, has passed away at the age of 93. In Telugu, she is particularly remembered for playing NTR’s grandmother, Bhamma, in the blockbuster entertainer Adhurs. She made her acting debut with Mani Ratnam’s Roja (1992), playing Madhoo’s grandmother, at around 60 years of age. Over her career, she appeared in more than 400 films, predominantly in Tamil cinema, alongside a handful of Telugu projects.
Her notable Tamil films include Sathi Leelavathi, Rhythm, Anniyan, Mozhi, Winner, Pattiyal and Dhaam Dhoom. In Telugu, Adhurs remains her best-known credit. Her final theatrical appearances came in 2013, with Sonna Puriyathu and Kalyana Samayal Saadham. Apart from films, she was also a familiar face on Tamil television, featuring in popular serials such as Chithi, Anandham and Mundhanai Mudichu.
According to reports, Vatsala had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time. She breathed her last at her residence in Chennai on Friday, October 30, 2026. Her mortal remains were kept at her home in Pallavaram for people to pay their last respects. Her demise has left the Tamil entertainment industry mourning the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned theatre, television and cinema.
