She Treated Me Like an Enemy: Actress Devika’s Husband Devadas

Devika, a celebrated actress of the 1950s and 60s, rose to prominence amidst fierce competition from contemporaries such as Savitri, Jamuna, and Krishnakumari. Known for her beauty and versatility, she starred alongside iconic actors like N.T. Rama Rao and Kanta Rao in mythological and folklore films. Despite her professional success, Devika's personal life was fraught with turmoil, as revealed by her estranged husband Devadas in a recent interview with Suman TV.

Devadas shared emotional and previously unknown details about their relationship, saying, “When I was working as an assistant director and earning just 200 rupees per month, Devika fell in love with me. It was she who proposed marriage. Despite the differences between us, she insisted on marrying me even after I expressed my doubts about whether we were compatible. After our marriage, we lived together for about 6 to 7 years. However, after the birth of our daughter Kanaka, our relationship started deteriorating, and eventually, we got divorced.”

Further elaborating on the conflicts in their marriage, Devadas alleged, “Devika was not only acting in front of the camera but also in our family life. She began treating me like an enemy. On one occasion, she even threw away her mangalsutra in anger. For 32 years, we were entangled in legal battles. As a husband and father, I admit that I failed, but the primary reason was her behavior. She would speak ill of me to our daughter, which caused a rift between us. My daughter has never cared for me, and even she filed property-related cases against me. I didn’t even attend Devika’s funeral.” Devika passed away in 2002.