Director
Dasari Narayana Rao gave her a starring role in the
Telugu film
Thoorupu Padamara when she was a teenager. The film became a huge hit.
K. Balachander then cast her in a supporting role in his Telugu film
Maro Charitra (1978). She reprised her role in its Hindi remake
Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), which became the top-grossing film of 1981. In both films, she played a lonely wealthy woman who falls in love with
Kamal Haasan's character. She earned a Filmfare Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. K. Balachander introduced her to the
Tamil film industry with
Thillu Mullu (1981), opposite
Rajinikanth. By the end of the decade, she starred opposite
Amitabh Bachchan in the
Hindi film
Andha Kanoon 1983,
Geraftaar 1985,
Agneepath (1990). She has acted in many Kannada movies with stalwarts like
Dr. Rajkumar,
Vishnuvardhan,
Anant Nag and
Ambareesh. She starred in seven movies with Rajkumar -
Haalu Jenu,
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma,
Anuraga Aralithu,
Shruthi Seridaaga,
Jeevana Chaitra,
Aakasmika and Odahuttidavaru. With Vishnuvardhan too she has acted in seven movies -
Onde Guri, Gandugali Rama, Chinnadantha Maga, Rudranaga, Khaidi, Chanakya and
Malaya Marutha. Madhavi acted alongside
Kamal Haasan in
Raja Paarvai,
Tik Tik Tik,
Kaakki Sattai,
Sattam,
Ellam Inba Mayam and
Mangamma Sabadham. Her films with
Rajinikanth include
Garjanai,
Thillu Mullu,
Thambikku Entha Ooru,
Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal and
Viduthalai. She was in
Enga Oor Kannagi,
Neethi Devan Mayakkam and
Nirabaraadhi. She acted in a number of films with Telugu actor
Chiranjeevi. Her first movie with Chiranjeevi was
Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya in 1982. She acted again with Chiranjeevi in the movie
Khaidi which was a massive hit. Her last movie in Telugu was
Big Boss (another Chiranjeevi film). She appeared in many
Malayalam films especially those starring
Mohanlal and
Mammootty. She portrayed
Unniyarcha in the National Award-winning movie
Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha (1989). Her portrayal as a mother who dies of
leukemia in
Akashadoothu won her the
Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress and
Filmfare Award for Best Actress for 1993. Other films include
Ormakkayi,
Changatham,
Novemberinte Nashtam and
Nombarathi Poovu Most of her author-backed roles were in Malayalam films. She has won three
Kerala State Film Awards, one for Best Actress and two for Second Best Actress. == Personal life ==