B. Saroja Devi (Kannada: ಬೀ. ಸರೋಜಾ ದೇವಿ) is an Indian actress. She has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies. She is referred to as "Abinaya Saraswathi" by Kannada film industry and as "Kannadathu Paingili" (meaning Kannada's Parrot) by Tamil Film Industry. She has acted in nearly 200 films in a period of more than three decades.Saroja Devi is one of the most successful female film stars in the history of Indian cinema and she was at her peak as the main female lead in films in the period 1958-85.Saroja Devi received Padma Bhushan, third highest civilian award, in 2002 and in 1969, she was honoured with the Padma Sri, the fourth-highest civilian honour, by the Government of India.

Saroja Devi was born in Karnataka on 7 January 1938 to Bhairappa and Rudramma. Her father worked for the police department. Saroja Devi was their fourth daughter. But this wasn't a happy occasion for her family, especially her grandfather, Mayanna Gowda. Bhairappa managed to overrule him and insist on raising the child. Her father asked her to learn dance and encouraged her to venture into films when film offers started coming to her. A young Saroja Devi was often chaperoned to studios by him. He frequently tied her salangais, and often massaged her swollen feet after her dancing stints.^{[citation needed]}

Vijaya Nirmala (Telugu: విజయ నిర్మల) is a South Indian actress and director. In 2002, the Guinness Book of Records named her as the female director who had made the highest number of films. She has directed 47 movies.

Vijaya Nirmala's entry into the film industry was as a child artiste in Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957) at the age of 7. In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir in the landmark Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam. She debuted in Telugu industry through the film Rangula Ratnam. Her debut film in Tamil was Engaveettu Penn, which was followed by movies including Panama Paasama, En Annan, Gnanaoli, and Uyira Maanama. She met her second husband Krishna on the sets of Saakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It was Saakshi, that kindled her interest in direction.

To date, she has acted in over 200 films with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu. Her small screen debut came with Balaji Telefilms Pelli Kanuka. Soon after, she launched her own banner Vijaya Krishna Movies and produced 15 films. She made her directional debut with a Malayalam film with a budget of 3 lakhs. She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena and directed 40 films in Telugu and one film each in Malayalam (directorial debut film) and Tamil (Kungumachimizh). Currently the actress-director is based in Hyderabad and is managing Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.

Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar, commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan (1 October 1927 – 21 July 2001), was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century and was one of the most respected film actors in India. He was well known for his versatility and acting skills with numerous roles depicted on screen. He progressed from a stage actor since his childhood to the filmdom with such an authority that the Tamil cinema considered as the golden era. In a career spanning close to five decades he has acted in nearly 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.

Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award in an International film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo, Egypt in 1960. Many leading South Indian film actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Ganesan. He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Ganesan is remembered as the iconic figure of Tamil cinema. He is referred to as "The Marlon Brando of Indian Cinema". From Parasakthi onwards, he has won the President's Award for more than 12 times. During end of his career, Ganesan was conferred the highest and the most prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema in 1997. In spite of his celebrated film career, his short stint in politics became a futile attempt.