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.

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.

Sharat Lata was born on 18 July 1943 to a Tulu-speaking couple, Krishnamurthy and Janakamma, in South Canara district of the erstwhile Madras Presidency (in present-day Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka).

Kalpana was drawn towards stage acting as a child after she spent much of her younger days with aunt Seethamma, an actress.

[2] In the early 1960s, Kalpana left for Uttara Kannada with her mother and brother to study the basics of film and stage performances.

She subsequently moved to Davangere, where upon meeting a relative, Shivakumar, she was introduced to playwright and filmmaker B. R. Panthulu, through actor Narasimharaju.

She dominated the Kannada film industry during the late 1960s and 1970s and was critically acclaimed for some of her author-backed roles in movies like Sharapanjara, Gejje Pooje, Belli Moda, Eradu Kanasu, Kappu Bilupu, Bayalu Daari, Gandhada Gudi and Bangarada Hoovu.

Kanagal groomed Kalpana to a great extent and though they were romantically linked by the media, industry folks are unanimous that their relationship was that of Guru-Shishya.

She won the Karnataka state award for Best Actress thrice for Belli Moda, Hannele Chiguridaga and Sharapanjara.

[1] The sway that actor Kalpana – who had won the title "Minugu Taare" (twinkling star) – held over Kannada film enthusiasts has not quite disappeared since her death.

V. Sreedhara, a teacher in Mysuru, has brought out a 1,114-page volume "Rajatha Rangada Dhruvathare", chronicling her life and work spanning 79 films.

Her suicide was attributed to multiple causes from health issues, poor financial condition to failed romance, though nothing was established.