Initial struggle As a child, Jayanthi went to the studios to see her idol
N. T. Rama Rao. He called her and made her sit on his lap. Affectionately, he had asked her whether she would agree to become his heroine and the little girl had merely blushed. The pair would go on later in life to produce successful films such as
Jagadeka Veeruni Katha,
Kula Gowravam,
Kondaveeti Simham and
Justice Chowdhury. During her teens, she had the chance to act in a few Tamil and Telugu movies in bit parts. Jayanthi was ridiculed most of the time as she was plump and could never dance well. Jayanthi promised herself that one day she would prove her worth. Jayanthi's life changed when noted film director
Y. R. Swamy spotted her during one of her dance rehearsals and cast her in his film
Jenu Goodu after persuading her mother. Jayanthi enjoyed a good run in the Kannada Film industry. She has costarred in more than 40 movies with
Rajkumar, the doyen of Kannada cinema.
Rise to fame Jenu Goodu, Jayanthi's first Kannada film was commercial success. Her next Kannada film as heroine was T. V. Singh Thakur's
Chandavalliya Thota, the first film that paired her with
Rajkumar. Based on
T. R. Subba Rao's novel the film was a huge success and even won the
President's Medal for Best Film in Kannada. The next major film that Jayanthi starred in was the 1965
Miss Leelavathi directed by M. R. Vittal in which she played the title role. Considered a film with a bold theme at the time, Jayanthi was launched as the glamour-diva wearing skirts, T-shirts and nighties which was a first for a Kannada film. The film was a huge success and catapulted Jayanthi to fame. She is credited with being the first Kannada actress to wear swimsuit on screen. She went on to act in over 30 films with
Rajkumar. Jayanthi featured in Tamil films from 1962 to 1979 and acted with all major stars as the leading lady. She costarred with
M. G. Ramachandran in
Padagotti and
Mugaraasi, with
Gemini Ganesan in
Kanna Nalama,
Velli Vizha,
Punnagai,
Ganga Gowri and
Iru Kodugal, with
Jaishankar in
Nil Gavani Kadhali and
Kaadhal Paduthum Paadu and
Ethir Neechal with
Nagesh. She was director
K. Balachander's regular actress and they went on to work in films such as
Iru Kodugal,
Bama Vijayam,
Ethir Neechal,
Punnagai,
Velli Vizha and
Kanna Nalama. She acted with
Jayalalithaa and
Manorama in
Mugaraasi. The song Aadhi Naadan Ketkindraan picturised on her sung by TMS-Janaki was very popular. During the late 1970s and the 1980s Jayanthi starred in many Kannada movies that required a slightly mature actress, often paired with Srinivasa Murthy and Prabhakar. ==Personal life==