It’s Dr Sreeleela now: Actress graduates with MBBS degree from Mumbai

Sreeleela has officially added “Dr” to her name. After balancing a demanding film career with her studies, she graduated with an MBBS degree from Mumbai’s DY Patil University on Tuesday.

The graduation ceremony was an emotional affair, attended by Sreeleela, her mother, and her grandparents. “It was such a proud moment for all of us. She had promised her grandfather that she would finish her MBBS alongside everything else. Sreeleela was in tears and very happy once she received the degree. Overcome with joy, she told her grandfather, ‘I gave you your degree as promised, Thatha,’ and told me, ‘I did what you wanted, Amma,’” reveals her mother, Dr Swarnalatha. “Completing an MBBS while managing shoots was no easy feat. She worked extremely hard, attending classes and studying from the caravan while on set. Even during breaks between shoots, she kept up with her studies.” Her dedication was reflected in her results. “She scored very well, especially in my specialty, gynaecology,” Dr Swarnalatha said. “Since we are a family of doctors, we were initially not very keen on films. But seeing her commitment and how she is flourishing, we never wanted to stop her.”

- Sanjana Pulugurtha