The South Indian actress who was renowned not just for her talent but also for her beauty was none other than Savitri. She was the stepmother of Bollywood superstar Rekha. Savitri was married to Rekhas father Gemini Ganesan. She reached incredible heights of fame and success. Remarkably she owned property worth Rs 100 crore in those days. However her life took a tragic turn as it is said that her husband played a significant role in her downfall. Born into a poor family she rose to immense wealth and fame solely on the strength of her talent. However her decision to marry in the midst of a thriving career eventually became a turning point that weighed heavily on her life. Savitri secretly tied the knot with Rekhas father Gemini Ganesan and the couple had two children together. She first met him at a studio where she had gone to audition for a film. It was during the time that Savitri fell in love with him. The news of their marriage came to light when Savitri signed a film and used the name Ganesan for the first time.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by savithri garu🔵 (@mahanati_savithri_official) Savitris film Maya Bazaar (1958) brought her widespread recognition and admiration. In fact after the films success she was revered by the public. However her growing stardom reportedly became difficult for her husband to accept. It is said that he played a role in ruining her career introducing her to alcohol and leading her down to a destructive path. Over time she became an alcohol addict which severely impacted her personal as well as professional life. She struggled financially in fact failed to pay taxes for several years and eventually the government seized her assets. In 1980s she slipped into coma and tragically passed away 19 months later.