Since Jayalalithaa was very good in studies, she was offered government scholarship for further studies but it seems she declined the offer as the financial position was her family was getting worse from bad and she decided to join films.
Owing to poor financial condition, Jayalalithaa's mother encouraged her to work in film she was still in school. Jayalalithaa acted in an English language film, Epistle, released in 1961. The film was produced by Shankar Giri, son of former President of India Dr VV Giri.
At the age of 15, she made her debut in Kannada films with ‘Chinnada Gombe' that was released in 1964. The film became a big hit.
In 1965, she made debut in Tamil Cinemawith a role in' Vennira Aadai'. In 1966, she made her debut in Telugu cinema with the film ‘Manushulu Mamathalu'.
But it was Gonndachari 116, a James Bond-style film, that catapulted her to fame.
M G Ramachandran was her favourite co-star with whom she did 28 films. The famous pair gave some of the best ever hits that included including films like Kavalkaran, Adimai Pen, Engal Thangam, Kudiyiruntha Koil, Ragasiya Police 115 and Nam Naadu. Some of her popular movies are Vennira Aadai, Aayirathil Oruvan, Kavalkaran, Pudhiya Boomi, Iru Deivangal, Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal.
In 1972, Jayalalithaa acted in Pattikada Pattanama opposite Sivaji Ganesan, which went onto win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 1973. She also got Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the same film.
Jayalalithaa's last film was Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal in 1980.
Jayalalithaa also tried her luck in Bollywood and acted in a few ‘Hindi' films that included ‘Izzat' in which she was paired with Dharmendra.
M G Ramachandran became the mentor of Jayalalithaa not only in film industry but also in her personal and political life. MGR had already joined politics and had become CM of Tamil Nadu in 1977. She started to groom Jayalalithaa in politics and made her the propaganda secretary of the party.
