Trivia

She acted in more than 600 films (more than 400 in Kannada alone).

Recipient of the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Kannada for Kannadada Kanda in 2006.

Was conferred with the honorary doctorate from the Tumkur University in the year 2008 for her contribution to India's southern cinema.

Received the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 from Karnataka Government.

She has starred in key supporting roles in a large number of films and received the Karnataka State Award for Gejje Pooje and Doctor Krishna.

She lost her parents at the age of 6.

Leelavathi joined the troupe of Mahalinga Bhagavathar's Sri Sahitya Samrajya Drama Company.

She was admitted to the hospital on October 15, 2011, and had a heart problem. An operation was performed, from which she recovered. Her hospital admission statements were concealed by her son Vinod Raj. But later it came to light with a TV 9 news report aired on October 25.

Leelavathi had the rare distinction of working with Rajkumar in various films as heroine as well as in other roles like daughter (Bhoodana), daughter-in-law (Kittur Chennamma), sister (Vathsalya), sister-in-law (elder brother's wife in Premamayi and younger brother's wife in Kalitharu Henne), paternal aunt (Shravana Banthu), and mother-in-law (Vasantha Geetha, Naa Ninna Mareyalare and Jwaalamukhi).

It was from Rani Honnamma that Leelavathi became a full-fledged heroine and went on to act in many films as the leading lady, like Santha Thukaram, Kantheredu Nodu, Kaivara Mahatme, Gaali Gopura, Kanyarathna, Kulavadhu, Veera Kesari and Mana Mecchida Madadi.