Early life and background
Jaya Prada was born in a middle-class home, her father was a Telugu film financier. Her mother enrolled her in dance and music classes at an early age.
Career
She was fourteen years old, when she gave a dance performance at her school. A film director and producer K.B Tilak was in audience and he offered her a three-minute musical number in a Telugu film Bhoomi Kosam (1976). She was hesitant but her family encouraged her to accept it. The rushes of those three minutes of film was shown to the major figures of the Telugu film industry, and the floodgates opened. Big-name directors approached her with leading roles in good movies and she accepted them.
She became a major star in 1976 with a trio of hits: K. Balachander's Anthuleni Katha showcased her dramatic skills; K. Viswanath's Siri Siri Muvva 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.[1] The song "Aaresukoboyi Paresukunnanu" picturized on her and co-star N.T. Rama Rao became a classic hit[2]. She branched out to star in Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada films, and had hit films in all of them.
Bollywood career
K. Viswanath remade Siri Siri Muvva (1976) into the Hindi film Sargam and introduced 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 as she couldn't speak Hindi.[3] It took three more years before director K. Vishwanath relaunched her again in Hindi films, with the hit film Kaamchor(1982) where she spoke Hindi fluently for the first time.[4] 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 (1985).
Along with her Bollywood film career, she continued to star in acclaimed films in the South, such as K. Vishwanath's Telugu hit film Sagara Sangamam (1983). 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.[5]. 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.)[6]
Jaya 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 Jayapradha 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 2002, she stepped into the Marathi film industry by being a guest in the movie Aadhaar. [7] Thus far, she acted in seven languages and has completed 300 films during a 30-year film career. She started playing mature roles in 2004.
She entered into politics by joining Telugu Desam party. She was nominated to be an MP in Rajyasabha by TDP party. 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.
She also owns the Jaya Prada Theater in Chennai. [8]
She was the debutant the kannada movie "Huli halina mevu"
Personal life
In 1986, she married producer Srikanth 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.[9] 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.[10]
Filmfare Awards & Nominations
- Lifetime Achievement Award (South) (2007)[11]
- Best Actress - Sargam (1979)
- Best Actress - Sharaabi (1984)
- Best Actress - Sanjog (1985)
Other Awards
- Kala Saraswati Award
- Kinnera Savitri Award
- Rajiv Gandhi Award
- Nargis Dutt Gold Medal
- Shakuntala Kala Rathnam Award
- Uttam Kumar Award[12]
- Kalakar Award for Best Author (2005)[13][14]
Filmography
Dasavathaaram (2008) (Tamil)....Ranjitha Singh
Deha (2007) (completed) (as Jaya Prada) .... Sandhya Joshi/Sandhya M. Desai
Maharadhi (2007) .... Chamundeswari Devi
Tathastu (2006) .... Dr. Nita
Khakee (2004) (as Jaya Prada) .... Jaya Shrivastav (Special Appearance) ... aka The Uniform (International: English title: informal literal title)
Ghar Grihasti (2004) (as Jaya Pradha) .... Temple dancer
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata (2002)
Devadoothan (2000) Malayalam.... Angelina Ignatious
Shabdavedi (2000)
Kohram (1999) .... Amrita Sodi
Nyaydaata (1999) .... Ram's wife
Zulm-O-Sitam (1998) .... Mrs. Aarti
Jeevan Yudh (1997) .... Rani
Lav Kush (1997) .... Sita
Warning (1997)
Veer (1995) .... Rani
Maidan-E-Jung (1995) (as Jaya Prada) .... Laxmi (Karan's Babhi)
Paapi Devataa (1995) .... Rosie
Insaniyat (1994) .... Champabai
Chauraha (1994) (as Jaya Prada) .... Mrs. Pooja Mathur
Vivekananda (1994) (as Jayaprada)
Khal-Naaikaa (1993)
Dhartiputra (1993)
Insaniyat Ke Devta (1993) .... Paro
Kundan (1993) .... Jyoti K. Singh
Tyagi (1992) .... Parvati Shankar Dayal
Maa (1992) (as Jaya Prada) .... Mamta
Indrajeet (1991) (as Jaya Prada) .... Shanti Devi
Farishtay (1991) .... Sheela (Guest Appearance)
Sapnon Ka Mandir (1991) .... Sangeeta Sharma
Thanedaar (1990) (as Jaya Prada) .... Sudha Chandar
Nyay Anyay (1990) (as Jayaprada) .... Advoate Rama Khanna
Aaj Ka Arjun (1990) .... Gauri
Zakhmi Zameen (1990) .... Radha
Shehzaade (1989) (uncredited) .... Gauri Shrivastav
Jaadugar (1989) .... Meena
Elaan-E-Jung (1989)
Souten Ki Beti (1989) (as Jaya Pradha) .... Rukmini S. Verma
Paraya Ghar (1989)
Gharana (1989) .... Naina
Hum Bhi Insaan Hain (1989) (as Jayaprada)
Kaanoon Ki Awaaz (1989) (as Jaya Prada) .... Advocate/Judge Janki Rai
Main Tera Dushman (1989) .... Jaya Srivastav (Kishan's wife)
Majboor (1989) .... Sharda
Maut Ki Ladai (1989)
Ganga Tere Desh Mein (1988) .... Dr. Asha
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1988) .... Seeta (Ram's wife)
Mardon Wali Baat (1988) .... Asha ... aka A Man's Job
Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi (1988) (as Jaya Pradha) .... Saraswathi
Samsaram (1988)
Sindoor (1987) .... Laxmi Choudhury
Majaal (1987) .... Sandhya .. aka Dare
Aulad (1987) .... Yashoda
Vishwanatha Nayakudu (1987)
Aisa Pyaar Kahan (1986) .... Sarita Khanna
Pyaar Ke Do Pal (1986) .... Geeta Choudhary
Muddat (1986) .... Bharti Devi ... aka Ages
Aakhree Raasta (1986) (as Jaya Prada) .... Mary D. D'Costa ... aka The Last Option
Veta (1986) ... aka Farrar Qaidi (India: Hindi title: dubbed version) ... aka The Hunt
Swarag Se Sunder (1986) .... Laxmi Choudhury ... aka Lovelier Than Heaven
Simhasanam (1986)
Singhasan (1986) .... Princess Alakh Nanda
Tandra Paparayudu (1986)
Sanjog (1985) .... Yashoda/Asha
Sur Sangam (1985) (as Jayaprada) .... Tulsi
Zabardast (1985) (as Jaya Pradha) .... Mala Saigal
Pataal Bhairavi (1985) .... Rajkumari Indumati Singh ... aka The Seductress from Hell
Haqeeqat (1985) .... Bharti ... aka Reality (International: English title)
Hoshiyar (1985) .... Radha
Mera Saathi (1985) .... Raagini
Naya Kadam (1984) .... Bijli
Insaaf Kaun Karega (1984) (as Jaya Pradha) .... Sitara Devi
Tohfa (1984) .... Janki
Awaaz (1984) .... Anu
Dharam Aur Kanoon (1984) .... Shanta
Haisiyat (1984) .... Sita
Maqsad (1984) .... Rani ... aka Objective
Mera Faisla (1984) .... Nisha Dhawan
Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai (1984)
Sharaabi (1984) .... Meena
Mawaali (1983) .... Nisha Verma ... aka Hoodlum
Qayamat (1983)
Puli Bebbuli (1983)
Adavi Simhalu (1983)
Amarajeevi (1983)
Kavirathna Kalidas (1983) .... Princess
Main Awara Hoon (1983) (as Jaya Pradha) .... Bela
Meghasandesam (1983) .... Padma ... aka The Cloud Messenger (India: English title)
Mundadugu (1983) ... aka The Next Step
Sagara Sangamam (1983) .... Madhavi ... aka Salangai Oli (India: Tamil title: dubbed version) ... aka The Confluence
Kaamchor (1982) .... Geeta Sanghvi
Baawri (1982)
Devatha (1982)
Dil-E-Nadaan (1982) .... Sheela
Ekalavya (film) (1982)
Krishnarajunulu (1982)
Swayamvaram (1982)
47 Natkal (1981)....Vaishali ... aka 47 Days ... aka 47 Rojulu (India: Telugu title)
Agni Poolu (1981)
Ooriki Monagadu (1981)
Rahasya Gudachari (1981)....Lalitha
Chandipriya (1980) .... Chandipriya
Circus Ramudu (1980)
Sreevari Muchatlu (1980)
Superman (1980) .... Lois Lane
Takkar (1980) .... Vijay's girlfriend ... aka The Confrontation
Iddaru Asadhyula (1979)
Dongalaku Saval (1979)
Ninaithale Inikkum (1979) Tamil film
Rangoon Rowdy (1979) .... Indhu/Rajani
Sargam (1979) (as Jaya Prada) .... Hema Pradhan ... aka Musical Scale (International: English title)
Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam (1979) .... Goddess Padmavati Devi
Dongalaku Donga (1978)
Yamagola (1978)
Adavi Ramudu (1977)....Padma
Andame Anandam (1977)
Chanakya Chandragupta (1977)
Kurukshetramu (1977) .... Uttara
Meethi Meethi Baatein (1977)
Seeta Rama Vanavasam (1977) .... Sita
Siri Siri Muvva (1976) .... Hema
Anthuleni Katha (1976) .... Sarita ... aka A Story Without an End
Mangalyaniki Maromudi (1976)
Manmatha Leelai (1976) .... Kannagi ... aka Cupid's Play
Seeta Kalyanam (1976) .... Sita/Lakshmi ... aka Seeta's Wedding ... aka The Wedding of Sita
Shri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club (1976)
Sita Swayamvar (1976) .... Sita ... aka Seetha Swayamvaram (India: Malayalam title: alternative transliteration)
Bhoomikosam(1974)
Politics
Jaya Prada is a member of the Lok Sabha from the Rampur (Lok Sabha Constituency) in Uttar Pradesh.
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