KOCHI: Veteran actress KPAC Lalitha has passed away. She was 75 years old. Lalitha, who was suffering from various physical ailments, was undergoing treatment for a long time. She breathed her last at her son's house in Thripunithura. KPAC Lalitha, who had been active in plays and cinema for over 50 years, made her acting debut through the plays of KPAC.

Lalitha's real name was Maheshwari Amma. She was born in Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district as the daughter of Kadaikkatharal Veetil K Ananthan Nair. Lalitha, who began learning dance from Kalamandalam Gangadharan at an early age, started acting in plays at the age of ten. Her first play was Geeta's 'Bali'. She later joined KPAC and adopted the name Lalitha. She made her film debut through director KS Sethumadhavan's movie 'Koottukudumbam'.

Lalitha married renowned director Bharathan in 1978. Following the death of her husband in 1998, she had taken a small break from films. Later, she made her comeback through Sathyan Anthikad's 'Veendum Chila Veettukaaryangal'. The legendary actress, who acted in over 550 films, had won several prestigious awards, including two national awards.