Doordarshan Iconic News Anchor Sarla Maheshwari passes away at 71
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, February 12, 2026: Sarla Maheshwari, one of the most recognised faces of Doordarshan’s Hindi news during the 1980s and 1990s, passed away in Delhi on Thursday at the age of 71.
Her demise was confirmed by family friend and fellow broadcaster Shammi Narang. Maheshwari was known for her composed delivery, dignified presence, and understated elegance at a time when television journalism in India was still evolving and news presenters were referred to as “newsreaders.”
She was associated with Doordarshan for nearly three decades, serving from 1976 until 2005. Maheshwari belonged to the pioneering generation of television journalists who shaped the early years of broadcast news in India, when daily bulletins were limited and Doordarshan was the country’s primary source of televised information.
In an era before private news channels emerged, her calm and measured style made her a trusted presence in millions of households across the country. Viewers remember her for her clarity of speech and quiet grace, qualities that defined Doordarshan’s news culture during its formative years.
Her last rites will be performed at Nigam Bodh Ghat in Delhi at 4 pm.