Jaya Prada
Encyclopedia
Jaya Prada is an Indian film actress and politician. She has starred in hundreds of Telugu
, Hindi, Tamil
, Kannada
, Malayalam
, Bengali
and Marathi
films.
, Andhra Pradesh
, India
. Her father Krishna Rao was a Telugu film financier. Her mother Neelavani enrolled her in dance and music classes at an early age.
film Bhoomikosam. She was hesitant, but her family encouraged her to accept it. She was paid only 10 rupees for her work in the film, but she also received much greater opportunities, as the rushes of those three minutes of film was shown to the major figures of the Telugu film industry, and the floodgates opened. Major filmmakers offered her starring roles in quality films, and she accepted them. She became a major star in 1976 with big hits. Famous director K. Balachander
's black-and-white film Anthuleni Katha
(1976) showcased her dramatic skills; K. Viswanath's color film Siri Siri Muvva
(1976) showed her playing a mute with excellent dancing skills; and her title role as Sita
in the big-budget mythological film Seetha Kalyanam confirmed her versatility. In 1977, she starred in Adavi Ramudu
, which broke box office records and which permanently cemented her star status. The song "Aaresukoboyi Paresukunnanu" picturized on her and co-star N.T. Rama Rao became a mass hit. In 1979, she acted in Ninaithale Inikkum opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in which she played a terminally-ill patient. She continued to act in more films in Telugu opposite major actors throughout the 70s. K. Viswanath remade Siri Siri Muvva (1976) in Hindi
as Sargam
introducing Jayaprada to Bollywood
in 1979. The film became a huge hit and she became an overnight star there as well. She earned her first Filmfare
nomination as Best Actress but couldn't capitalize on her success since she couldn't speak Hindi
.
. Director K. Vishwanath relaunched her again in Hindi
films, with the hit film Kaamchor
where she spoke Hindi
fluently for the first time. She was now able to consistently work in Hindi
films and earn two more Filmfare
nominations as Best Actress for playing Amitabh Bachchan
's endearing girlfriend in Prakash Mehra
's Sharaabi
(1984) and for her challenging double role in K. Vishwanath's Sanjog. Saagara Sangamam
released in 1983 proved to be a milestone in her career, Starring Kamal Haasan
, the film won her lot of accolades including Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu.
She earned fans, not just with the masses, but also with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray
, who has said she was one of the prettiest women in the world. Although, she has acted in Bengali
films, she has never worked for Ray. (She claimed that Ray had her in mind for a film, but his illness and subsequent death prevented their collaboration)
Jayaprada made a successful team, not just with Amitabh Bachchan
and Jeetendra
, but also with her immediate screen rival Sridevi, with whom she has acted in about a dozen films. Their hit Telugu film Devata (film) (1982) where they played sisters who made big sacrifices for each other, was remade into the hit Hindi
film Tohfaa (1984). These films endeared Jayaprada to the traditional conservative section of filmgoers. It was an image that would serve her well when she started a new career as a politician.
In film Paatal Bhairavi, at the peak of her facial and physical beauty, Jayapradha plays the role of a princess in a magical kingdom. This performance became renowned as the supreme example of grand and classical beauty of South Indian women in Bollywood.
In 2002, she stepped into the Marathi film industry by being a guest in the movie Aadhaar. Thus far, she acted in eight languages and has completed 300 films during a 30-year film career. She started playing mature roles in 2004.
She also owns the Jaya Prada Theater in Chennai.
In 2011, she portrayed a strong role in a malayalam movie Pranayam
, with Mohanlal and Anupam Kher.
by her former co-star N.T.Rama Rao in 1994. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996.
Following differences with party Supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, she left TDP to join Samajwadi Party
and contested from Rampur parliamentary Constituency in UP during the last General election in 2004 and got elected. During her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections
, she was issued a notice by the Election Commission for violating the code of conduct by distributing bindis
to women in Rampur's Swar locality. On 11 May 2009, Jaya Prada alleged that senior Samajwadi Party
leader Azam Khan
was distributing nude pictures of her. She was re-elected with a margin of more than 30,000 votes.
Jayaprada was expelled from the party on February 2, 2010 on the charge of indulging in activities inimical to its political interests and damaging its image.Jayaprada was accused by Samajwadi party members for infiltration into the party of capitalist and communal forces, which threatened to derail it from its Samajwadi moorings and damage its secular character.
Nominated
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Hindi, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
, Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
, Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
films.
Early life
Jaya Prada was born as Lalita Rani on 3 April 1962 in a middle-class family in RajahmundryRajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Her father Krishna Rao was a Telugu film financier. Her mother Neelavani enrolled her in dance and music classes at an early age.
1970s
When she was fourteen years old, she performed a dance at her school's annual function. A film director was in the audience, and he offered her a three-minute dance number in the TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
film Bhoomikosam. She was hesitant, but her family encouraged her to accept it. She was paid only 10 rupees for her work in the film, but she also received much greater opportunities, as the rushes of those three minutes of film was shown to the major figures of the Telugu film industry, and the floodgates opened. Major filmmakers offered her starring roles in quality films, and she accepted them. She became a major star in 1976 with big hits. Famous director K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...
's black-and-white film Anthuleni Katha
Anthuleni Katha
Anthuleni Katha is a 1976 Telugu film directed by K. Balachander. The film is a remake of the 1974 Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. This is Jayaprada's first starring role and is considered to be one of her best films. This was also Rajnikanth's first major role. Kamal Hassan played an extended...
(1976) showcased her dramatic skills; K. Viswanath's color film Siri Siri Muvva
Siri Siri Muvva
Siri Siri Muvva is a 1978 Telugu film from director K. Viswanath, producer Edida Nageshwara Rao, dialogues by Jandhyala. The stars are Jayapradha and Chandra Mohan. The director K...
(1976) showed her playing a mute with excellent dancing skills; and her title role as Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
in the big-budget mythological film Seetha Kalyanam confirmed her versatility. In 1977, she starred in Adavi Ramudu
Adavi Ramudu
Adavi Ramudu is a Telugu Drama film which released on 28 April 1977 and was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Dr. NTR, Jayaprada, and Jayasudha played important roles....
, which broke box office records and which permanently cemented her star status. The song "Aaresukoboyi Paresukunnanu" picturized on her and co-star N.T. Rama Rao became a mass hit. In 1979, she acted in Ninaithale Inikkum opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in which she played a terminally-ill patient. She continued to act in more films in Telugu opposite major actors throughout the 70s. K. Viswanath remade Siri Siri Muvva (1976) in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
as Sargam
Sargam (1979 film)
Sargam is a 1979 Hindi movie produced by N. N. Sippy. Writer and Director is K Vishwanath. Film is a remake of his earlier Telugu hit Siri Siri Muvva , which starred Jayaprada and made her a star in South India. She made her Hindi film debut with this film, repeating her role of a mute dancer...
introducing Jayaprada to Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
in 1979. The film became a huge hit and she became an overnight star there as well. She earned her first Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
nomination as Best Actress but couldn't capitalize on her success since she couldn't speak Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
.
1980s
In 1981, she starred in the critically acclaimed 47 Natkal47 Natkal
47 Natkal is a 1981 Indian Tamil drama film directed by K. Balachander starring Chiranjeevi, Jayaprada, Sarath Babu and Ramaprabha. It was simultaneously made into in Telugu as 47 Rojulu Actress Saritha plays herself in a guest role. The film is based on a novel by Sivashankari...
. Director K. Vishwanath relaunched her again in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films, with the hit film Kaamchor
Kaamchor
Kaamchor is a 1982 Hindi movie. Produced by Rakesh Roshan the film is directed by K. Viswanath, a remake of his Telugu film Subhodayam . The film stars Rakesh Roshan, Jaya Prada, Tanuja, Sujit Kumar, Suresh Oberoi, Shreeram Lagoo and Bhagwan Dada...
where she spoke Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
fluently for the first time. She was now able to consistently work in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films and earn two more Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
nominations as Best Actress for playing Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
's endearing girlfriend in Prakash Mehra
Prakash Mehra
-Career:Born on 13 July 1939 at Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India, Mehra started in the late 1950s as a production controller. In 1968, he directed Shashi Kapoor who played a double role in Haseena Maan Jayegi. This was followed by the 1971 hit Mela starring the Khan brothers together. In 1973, he...
's Sharaabi
Sharaabi
Sharaabi is a 1984 Indian Hindi movie produced and directed by Prakash Mehra. This was Prakash Mehra's last hit and sixth in a row with Amitabh, the other five being Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris and Namak Halaal...
(1984) and for her challenging double role in K. Vishwanath's Sanjog. Saagara Sangamam
Saagara Sangamam
Sagara Sangamam is a National Award–winning 1983 Telugu film directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageshwara Rao, starring Kamal Haasan, Jayaprada, Geetha, Sarath Babu, S. P. Sailaja and Chakri Toleti. The movie was dubbed into Tamil as Salangai Oli...
released in 1983 proved to be a milestone in her career, Starring Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
, the film won her lot of accolades including Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu.
She earned fans, not just with the masses, but also with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
, who has said she was one of the prettiest women in the world. Although, she has acted in Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
films, she has never worked for Ray. (She claimed that Ray had her in mind for a film, but his illness and subsequent death prevented their collaboration)
Jayaprada made a successful team, not just with Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
and Jeetendra
Jeetendra
Jeetendra born Ravi Kapoor is an Indian actor and television producer...
, but also with her immediate screen rival Sridevi, with whom she has acted in about a dozen films. Their hit Telugu film Devata (film) (1982) where they played sisters who made big sacrifices for each other, was remade into the hit Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film Tohfaa (1984). These films endeared Jayaprada to the traditional conservative section of filmgoers. It was an image that would serve her well when she started a new career as a politician.
In film Paatal Bhairavi, at the peak of her facial and physical beauty, Jayapradha plays the role of a princess in a magical kingdom. This performance became renowned as the supreme example of grand and classical beauty of South Indian women in Bollywood.
In 2002, she stepped into the Marathi film industry by being a guest in the movie Aadhaar. Thus far, she acted in eight languages and has completed 300 films during a 30-year film career. She started playing mature roles in 2004.
She also owns the Jaya Prada Theater in Chennai.
In 2011, she portrayed a strong role in a malayalam movie Pranayam
Pranayam
Pranayam is a 2011 Malayalam romantic drama film written and directed by Blessy. The film revolves around the love bound between the characters of Mathews , Grace and Achutha Menon ....
, with Mohanlal and Anupam Kher.
Personal life
In 1986, she married producer Srikant Nahata, who was already married to Chandra and had 3 children. Needless to say, this marriage stirred a lot of controversy, especially since Nahata did not divorce his current wife and had children with his first wife after marrying Jayaprada. Jayaprada and Srikanth have no children together, but she expressed desire to have children. Both Jaya Prada and her husband's first wife have cordially agreed to share a husband.Political career
Jayaprada was initiated into the Telugu Desam PartyTelugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
by her former co-star N.T.Rama Rao in 1994. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996.
Following differences with party Supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, she left TDP to join Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
and contested from Rampur parliamentary Constituency in UP during the last General election in 2004 and got elected. During her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
, she was issued a notice by the Election Commission for violating the code of conduct by distributing bindis
Bindi (decoration)
A bindi is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia . and Southeast Asia...
to women in Rampur's Swar locality. On 11 May 2009, Jaya Prada alleged that senior Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
leader Azam Khan
Azam Khan (politician)
Mohammad Azam Khan is a politician in India. He has served as the cabinet minister of Uttar Pradesh government twice and was the leader of the opposition party in Uttar Pradesh assembly.-Early life and background:...
was distributing nude pictures of her. She was re-elected with a margin of more than 30,000 votes.
Jayaprada was expelled from the party on February 2, 2010 on the charge of indulging in activities inimical to its political interests and damaging its image.Jayaprada was accused by Samajwadi party members for infiltration into the party of capitalist and communal forces, which threatened to derail it from its Samajwadi moorings and damage its secular character.
Filmfare Awards & Nominations
Won- Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu - Saagara SangamamSaagara SangamamSagara Sangamam is a National Award–winning 1983 Telugu film directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageshwara Rao, starring Kamal Haasan, Jayaprada, Geetha, Sarath Babu, S. P. Sailaja and Chakri Toleti. The movie was dubbed into Tamil as Salangai Oli...
(1983) - Lifetime Achievement Award (South) (2007)
Nominated
- Best Actress - SargamSargam (1979 film)Sargam is a 1979 Hindi movie produced by N. N. Sippy. Writer and Director is K Vishwanath. Film is a remake of his earlier Telugu hit Siri Siri Muvva , which starred Jayaprada and made her a star in South India. She made her Hindi film debut with this film, repeating her role of a mute dancer...
(1979) - Best Actress - Sharaabi (1985)
- Best Actress - Sanjog (1986)
Other awards
- Nandi Special Award for Anthuleni KathaAnthuleni KathaAnthuleni Katha is a 1976 Telugu film directed by K. Balachander. The film is a remake of the 1974 Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. This is Jayaprada's first starring role and is considered to be one of her best films. This was also Rajnikanth's first major role. Kamal Hassan played an extended...
(1976) - Kala Saraswati Award
- Kinnera Savitri Award
- Rajiv Gandhi Award
- Nargis Dutt Gold Medal
- Shakuntala Kala Rathnam Award
- Uttam Kumar Award
- ANR Achievement Award (2008)
- Venus of Indian Cinema Award from TSR TV9 Film Awards (2011)