Born and raised in Karnataka, Jayalalithaa was well-versed in Kannada. For many, it would be hard to imagine that the no-nonsense chief minister was once a slim and captivating beauty. She acted in Chinnada Gombe during her summer holidays to ensure her studies were not affected. And he also predicted that one day she will be a very successful actor in the film industry, which came true sooner than he expected. By: Express Web Desk | Bengaluru |

Published:December 6, 2016 6:43 pm

Jayalalithaa’s last film before she became no-nonsense Tamil Nadu chief minister
Over the period of last three decades, actor Jayalalithaa may have been overshadowed by the deeds of politician Jayalalithaa. The influential leader who always dressed in thick clothes of dark colours, showing a lack of interest in fashion, back then, had pushed the envelope in portraying onscreen glamorous roles, while, in fact, many leading ladies of her time played within the confines of short-sighted morality. However, the success of the film, directed by BR Panthulu, opened up new doors for the young talent, prompting her to become a full-time actor. Also read | RIP J Jayalalithaa: Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan pay tribute, call her India’s ‘brave daughter’
Legendary thespian Sivaji Ganeshan, who was the chief guest at Jayalalithaa’s ‘Arangaetram’ or first Bharatanatyam dance performance in 1960, described her as “thangachilai” (golden statue) in reference to her slim physique. In 1964, Jayalalithaa was just 15 when she became a heroine with blockbuster Kannada film, Chinnada Gombe.