The Kannada TV family lost a bright talent today, actress Rashmileela, who just died. Rashmileela is widely known for her versatile performances in countless Kannada daily soaps and had been suffering from serious health difficulties for years. Her husband Sarraki Manju announced the news in an emotional social media post, saying that even though all prayers and the best medical resources were employed, she couldn’t be saved.
The Long Struggle: From Arthritis to Pulmonary Fibrosis
Rashmileela's progress in health was an extension of that great resilience. Her husband revealed that she had been struggling with Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past 6 to 7 years. While it was a very painful condition, the serious side effects gradually took a toll on her respiratory system. She was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, a progressive disease in which the lung tissue gets scarred and thickened, making breathing harder and harder, by 2019. For the past year, her condition has worsened to the point that she was entirely dependent on an oxygen cylinder to survive.
The Hope of a Lung Transplant
The couple had requested the public to assist them in August 2024, as the cost of the treatments and the proposed lung transplant was prohibitively high. Her audience and the Kannada film and TV industry joined her in rallying support. A few months ago, a poignant update was released by Sarraki Manju about the agonizing wait for a donor:
"Doctors told us the truth we could only hope for a lung transplant. We were waiting for a miracle from another man’s sacrifice in dying. Finally, Narayana Health called to say a donor was available."
Rashmileela underwent an ambitious and high-stakes lung transplant surgery in early 2026. The surgery was a glimmer of hope for a new life, but her body proved unable to rebound from the complications following the procedure.
A Legacy of Courage
Rashmileela was more than a screen face and represented one of the strongest for the many whom she was. Bound in a hospital bed and trying to cope with excruciating pain, she kept a hopeful face, even on social media, interacting frequently with her supporters. Her husband, Sarraki Manju, was her sole rock during this ordeal and they spent a lot of time documenting their journey of raising awareness for organ donation and the extent of chronic illnesses.
Tributes Pour In
As word traveled around of her death, a number of Kannada TV industry stars were shocked. “She fought like a warrior” right up until the end, said one of her co-stars. Many fans remarked that her last year’s pleas for help united the community, showing how much she was loved. The actress’s final rites will take place in Bengaluru to be attended by her family, friends and members of the television fraternity.
