One of the news gists the Indian TV community, former newsreader Sarla Maheshwari has passed away today in the national capital. The legendary Hindi, calm, screeny, and smooth-spoken Maheshwari was a fixture in decades that had seen Doordarshan as the country's default window to the world for Indian families.
Career Life and Evolution Of TV
Sarla Maheshwari started as a public broadcaster in 1976. She auditioned for a role during her PhD at Delhi University, where she was selected as an announcer. Her ability and poise also saw her shift into news reading, where she became a staple on the prime-time Hindi bulletins. For nearly a third of a century (1976–2005), she had witnessed the historic transformation of Indian television:
- The Shift to Colour: She was among the innovative group that heralded the switch away from black and white to color broadcasting in the early 1980s.
- Asian Games 1982: She was a voice that helped infuse the hype surrounding the 1982 Delhi Asian Games into Indian living rooms. Global Stint: In the mid-80s she also worked as newsreader for the BBC in the UK before returning to her roots at Doordarshan.
Embodiment of Grace: Pour In the Tribute
Shammi Narang, her longtime colleague and a fellow legendary anchor, confirmed the tragedy on social media. “It fills me with deep sadness to announce the sad death of my ex co-news anchor, Sarla Maheshwari. She exuded grace and courtesy. Beautiful but more beautiful, she possessed an astonishing mastery of language and a wealth of knowledge,” Narang wrote.
I feel utmost grief in announcing the sad demise of my ex co-News anchor at Doordarshan, Sarala Maheshwari 🙏
— Shammi Narang (@iamshamminarang) February 12, 2026
She was the embodiment of grace and courtesy.
Beautiful not just in appearance but even more so at heart, she had a remarkable command over language and was a reservoir… pic.twitter.com/VIX8khALBC
Doordarshan National also offered a heartfelt tribute and said that her “gentle voice, exact pronunciation and dignified presentation” created a deep bond of trust with viewers nationwide.
Remembering the DD Era
To those coming from the era of the pre-cable, Sarla Maheshwari marked an era when news was about information and legitimacy, not sensationalism. During interviews, she frequently recalled the hurdles of the pre-teleprompter era, when anchors found themselves memorizing large portions of their scripts to keep eye contact with the camera. She was also a revered academic, having delivered lectures at Hansraj College, Delhi University, aligning her passion for education with her high-profile media career. Last Rites:
Today, the veteran newsreader’s last rites were administered at Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi, 4:00 PM, surrounded by family members, former colleagues, and fans of the "Golden Age" of Indian TV.
