Kalpana (Kannada actress)

Kalpana
"Minugu Taare" Kalpana
Native name	ಶರತ್ ಲತಾ / ಕಲ್ಪನಾ
Born	Sharat Lata 8 July 1943 Uttara Kannada, Madras Presidency(Now Karnataka )British India
Died	12 May 1979(1979-05-12) (aged 35) Gotur IB, Sankeshwar, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
Other names	"Minugu Taare"
Occupation	Actress
Spouse(s)	Gudigeri Basavaraj

Kalpana (Kannada: ಕಲ್ಪನಾ; 8 July 1943 – 12 May 1979), born Sharat Lata, was a Kannada film actress. She was affectionately referred to as Minugu Taare ("A Shining Star") among the film fraternity. She was widely recognised as one of the greatest actresses of Kannada cinema who enjoyed both fan following and critical acclaim. She made her screen debut as a lead actress in the 1963 release Saaku Magalu directed by veteran B.R. Pantulu. During a career that spanned from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, Kalpana appeared in numerous commercially successful as well as critically appreciated films, many of which featured her alongside actor Rajkumar. She worked in few Tamil, Tulu and Telugu films as well. Many of her successful films were female-centric that gave ample scope for her performance.

One of her best-known roles was that of 'Kaveri' in the multi-award winning film Sharapanjara released in 1971, a performance that won her Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for that year. Her portrayal of a highly spirited and complex woman who fights her mental trauma won her the largest fan following ever for a Kannada actress. Her association with the veteran film maker Puttanna Kanagal both professionally and personally became the talk of the town back in the 1970s. They both went on to work in many commercially and critically successful films until they grew apart.

Kalpana committed suicide on 12 May 1979 after her alleged failed romance with Gudigeri Basavaraj. Her career was in decline at the time of her death. A film based on her life, titled Abhinetri, was released in 2015.

Kalpana was born to a Tulu speaking couple, Krishnamurthy and Janakamma, as Sharat Lata in South Canara district of Karnataka state. She was very passionate about acting and took part in all the talent competitions held at her school. She was also very conscious about prevailing style statement but had her own distinct style in her outfits. She, along with her younger brother and her mother moved to the uttara Kannada district to experience the basics of movie and stage performances. When she moved to Davangere, she was introduced to Shiv Kumar who took her to Madras and introduced her to Narsimharaju. She was given a break into films by noted director B. R Pantulu who was impressed by her. Kalpana decided that she wanted to be an established film actress and soon achieved her goal and gained prominence in the industry.