Jayaprada

Jaya Prada
Jaya Prada graces Perfect Pati TV serial launch (03) (cropped).jpg
Jay Prada in 2019
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
13 May 2004 – 16 May 2014
Preceded byNoor Bano
Succeeded byNaipal Singh
ConstituencyRampur
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
10 April 1996 – 9 April 2002
ConstituencyAndhra Pradesh
Personal details
Born
Lalita Rani

(1962-04-03) 3 April 1962 (age 60)
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party (2019–Present)
Other political
affiliations
Telugu Desam Party (until 2004)
Samajwadi Party (2004–2010)
Rashtriya Lok Dal (2014–2019)
Spouse(s)
Srikanth Nahata
(m. 1986)
Children2 sons (adopted)
OccupationActress, politician

Jaya Prada (born Lalita Rani; 3 April 1962) is an Indian actress and politician. She is hailed as one of the most iconic, influential actresses in both Telugu and Hindi film industries in late 70s, 80s and early 90s. Jaya Prada is the recipient of three Filmfare Awards South and has starred in many Telugu and Hindi films along with several Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi films. She left the film industry at the peak of her career, as she joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1994 and entered politics. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) from Rampur from 2004 to 2014.

Some of her memorable films include Anthuleni Katha (1976), Seeta Kalyanam (1976), Adavi Ramudu (1977), Yamagola (1977), Sanaadi Appanna (1977), Siri Siri Muvva (1978), Huliya Haalina Mevu (1979), Sargam (1979), Ooriki Monagadu (1981), Kaamchor (1982), Kaviratna Kalidasa (1983), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Tohfa (1984), Sharaabi (1984), Maqsad (1984), Sanjog (1985), Aakhree Raasta (1986), Simhasanam (1986), Sindoor (1987), Samsaram (1988), Elaan-E-Jung (1989), Aaj Ka Arjun (1990), Thanedaar (1990), Maa (1991), Habba (1999), Shabdavedhi (2000), Devadoothan (2000), Pranayam (2011), Ee Bandhana (2007) and Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (2012). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in Sagara Sangamam. She has also been awarded Filmfare Special Award for her performance in Siri Siri Muvva & Anthuleni Katha (1976).

She has been considered by many as the most beautiful face to have ever graced Indian cinema including Satyajit Ray who called her "the most beautiful face on the Indian screen".

Early life

Jaya Prada was born as Lalita Rani in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh Rajaka family. Her father, Krishna Rao, was a Telugu film financier. Her mother, Neelavani, was a home-maker. The young Lalitha attended a Telugu medium school in Rajahmundry and was also enrolled in dance and music classes at an early age.

Film career

Jayaprada with actress Raadhika at 62nd Filmfare Awards South.

When Jaya Prada was a teenager, she performed a dance at her school's annual function. A film director in the audience offered her a three-minute dance number in the Telugu film Bhoomi Kosam (1974). She was hesitant, but her family encouraged her to accept it. She was paid only 10 rupees for her work in the film, but the rushes of those three minutes of film were shown to the major figures of the Telugu film industry. Major filmmakers offered her starring roles in quality films, and she accepted them. She became a huge star in 1976 with major hit films. 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 girl with excellent dancing skills; and her title role as Sita in the big-budget mythological film Seetha Kalyanam (1976) 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" performed by Prada and co-star N.T. Rama Rao became a mass hit. Important filmmakers were casting her and repeating her in their films. Filmmaker Vijay introduced her to Kannada cinema in his 1977 super-hit movie Sanaadi Appanna alongside Kannada matinee idol Dr. Rajkumar. The movie is also known to be the only movie to feature shehnai rendition by Ustad Bismillah Khan.

In 1979, K. Balachander repeated her in the Tamil film 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 actors such NTR, ANR, Krishna, Krishnam Raju and Sobhan Babu throughout the 70s and 80s. She acted in highest number of films with Krishna like Sri Rajeshwari vilas coffee club (1976) , Bhale Krishnudu (1980), Ooruki Monagadu (1981), Mundadugu (1983), Prajarajyam (1983) and Singhasan (1986) ,. K. Viswanath remade Siri Siri Muvva (1976) in Hindi as Sargam, introducing Jayaprada to Bollywood in 1979. The film was successful and she became a 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.

In 1981, she starred in the critically acclaimed Tamil film 47 Natkal and simultaneously made Telugu film 47 Rojulu by filmmaker K. Balachander in which Chiranjeevi played her villainous, bigamist husband. After she took Hindi lessons, director K. Vishwanath relaunched her in Hindi films, with Kaamchor where she spoke Hindi fluently for the first time. Saagara Sangamam directed by K. Vishwanath, starring Kamal Hassan proved to be a milestone in her career, winning her many accolades including Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu in 1983. She was now able to consistently work in Hindi films, and earned 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).

Jaya Prada 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 Devatha (1982), where they played sisters who made huge sacrifices for each other, was remade into the hit Hindi film Tohfa (1984). These films endeared Jaya Prada to the traditional conservative section of film goers and she amassed a huge female fan following as well. It was an image that would serve her well when she started a new career as a politician. In 1985, she acted in the Malayalam film Iniyum Kadha Thudarum directed by Joshiy starring Mammootty, Baby Shalini and Ambika.

Indian director Satyajit Ray described her as 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).

Jaya Prada at the launch of T P Aggarwal's trade magazine 'Blockbuster'

Jaya Prada continued to act as a heroine mainly opposite Amitabh and Jeetendra during the early 1990s. She also acted in some significant Kannada films as the heroine. From 1994 onwards, she cut back on film assignments and got more involved with a political career.

In 2000, she acted in the Malayalam film Devadoothan, starring Mohanlal, directed by Sibi Malayil. The film garnered immensely popular reviews from the critics but failed at the box office. But it met with great appreciation from the audience when released in Home Media and when aired on television. his movie had evergreen hit songs. She also starred for the last time, opposite Kannada super star Dr. Rajkumar in Shabdavedi. In 2002, she stepped into the Marathi film industry by being a guest in the movie Aadhaar. Thus far, she has acted in eight languages and has completed 300 films during a 30-year film career. In 2004, she acted in Ee Snehatheerathu, a Malayalam film as Kunchacko Boban's mother. She started playing mature roles.

She also owns the Jaya Prada Theater in Chennai.

In 2011, she returned to Malayalam cinema with a strong role in Pranayam, alongside Mohanlal and Anupam Kher. She played "Grace" in this film, which won her critical acclaim and several awards. Her 2012 Kannada film Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (Sangolli Rayanna) that saw her donning the historical role of courageous Kittur Chennamma, completed 100 days at the box office.

Personal life

On 22 February 1986, she married producer Srikanth Nahata, who was already married to Chandra and had 3 children. This marriage stirred a lot of controversy, especially since Nahata did not divorce his wife and had children with his first wife after marrying Jaya Prada. Jaya Prada and Srikanth have no children together. Jaya Prada went on to adopt her sister's son and raise him as her own.

Political career

Jaya Prada joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1994 at the invitation of its founder N. T. Rama Rao, on the eve of the assembly elections, and rose quickly through the ranks. At that time there was speculation that she would run for election, but she preferred not to make her electoral debut, although she was offered a seat by Rao.

She campaigned in several constituencies in 1994. When Rao became the Chief minister in 1994, he appointed one of his sons-in-law Nara Chandrababu Naidu as the Revenue Minister. Soon after the formation of the government, Chandrababu Naidu convinced a majority of the TDP MLAs to elect him as the chief minister and revolted against his father in law. Since most of the legislators had gone over to his side, the Anti Defection Law did not apply and the Telugu Desam Party label passed on to the Chandrababu Naidu faction. During this period, Prada too joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996. She also held the post of Telugu Mahila President.

Following differences with party Supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, she left the TDP to join Samajwadi Party. She contested from Rampur parliamentary Constituency in UP during the 2004 General election and got elected with a margin of more than 85000 votes. During her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, 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.

After she came out in open support of the former General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party, Amar Singh, Prada was expelled from the party on 2 February 2010 for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities and damaging the party's secular image. Amar Singh, along with Jaya Prada floated his own political party, Rashtriya Lok Manch, in 2011, and fielded candidates in 360 of the 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2012 assembly polls. However, his party did not win a single seat in these elections. Later she, along with Amar Singh joined the RLD on 10 March 2014 and after that she got the ticket to contest from the Bijnor seat in the 2014 general elections. She, however, lost the election.

She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of National General Secretary Bhupender Yadav on 26 March 2019.

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s).
Jayapradam Host
2018 Perfect Pati Rajyashri Rathore
2022 Sasural Simar Ka 2 Herself Cameo appearance
Hunarbaaz: Desh Ki Shaan Guest appearance

Awards

Nandi Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards
Year Artist/Work Category Language Outcome
1979 Sargam Best Actress Hindi Nominated
1984 Sharaabi Nominated
1985 Sanjog Nominated

Filmfare Awards South

Year Artist/Work Category Language Outcome
1976 Anthuleni Katha Best Actress Telugu Nominated
Siri Siri Muvva Nominated
Anthuleni Katha,Siri Siri Muvva Special Jury Award Won
1979 Ninaithale Inikkum Best Actress Tamil Nominated
1980 Chandipriya Best Actress Telugu Nominated
1981 47 Rojulu Nominated
1982 Meghasandesam Nominated
1983 Sagara Sangamam Won
1984 Sampoorna Premayanam Nominated
2000 Devadoothan Best Actress Malayalam Nominated
2007 Overall Contribution to Telugu Film Industry Lifetime Achievement Award Telugu Won
2011 Pranayam Best Actress Malayalam Nominated
2012 Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Best Supporting Actress Kannada Nominated
Other awards
  • Kalashree award
  • Kala Saraswati Award
  • Kinnera Savitri Award
  • Rajiv Gandhi Award
  • Nargis Dutt Gold Medal
  • Shakuntala Kala Rathnam Award
  • Uttam Kumar Award
  • Ever Green Beauty of India at 14th Santosham Film Awards in 2016.
  • ANR Achievement Award (2008)
  • Venus of Indian Cinema Award from TSR TV9 Film Awards (2011)
  • Nana Film Award for Best Actress – Pranayam
  • Ujala Asianet Film Awards 2012 – Special Jury Award for Pranayam
  • Amrita Film Awards 2012 – Best Actress Award for Pranayam
  • Mathrubhumi Kalyan Silks film awards 2012 – Best Character Actress Award for Pranayam
  • Kerala Film Producers Association – Surya TV Film Awards 2012 – Outstanding Performance Award for Pranayam
  • Asiavision Movie Awards 2011 – Outstanding Performance Award for Pranayam

Filmography

Year Film Title Language Role Notes
1974 Bhoomi Kosam Telugu Debut
1975 Naaku Swatantram Vachindi Telugu
1976 Manmatha Leelai Tamil Kannagi Tamil debut
Anthuleni Katha Telugu Sarita
Seeta Kalyanam Telugu Seeta and Goddess Lakshmi
Mangalyaniki Maromudi Telugu
Sri Rajeshwari Vilas Coffee Club Telugu Rajeshwari
1977 Bhadrakali Telugu Gayathri
Adavi Ramudu Telugu Padma
Kurukshetram Telugu Uttara
Andame Aanandam Telugu Padma
Eenati Bandham Enatido Telugu
Chanakya Chandragupta Telugu
Yamagola Telugu Savithri
Sanaadi Appanna Kannada Basanti Kannada debut
Eetharam Manishi Telugu
Jeevitha Nauka Telugu
Dongalaku Donga Telugu Sunitha
1978 Siri Siri Muvva Telugu Hema
Athani Kante Ghanudu Telugu
Agent Gopi Telugu
Dongala Veta Telugu
Rama Krishnulu Telugu Jaya
Devadasu Malli Puttadu Telugu Shanthi
Melu Kolupu Telugu Susheela
Rajaputra Rahasyam Telugu Priyadarshini
Radhakrishna Telugu Radha
1979 Sargam Hindi Hema Pradhan
Huliya Haalina Mevu Kannada Poovi
Ninaithale Inikkum Tamil Sona Bilingual film
Andamaina Anubhavam Telugu Sona
Lok Parlok Hindi Savithri
Rangoon Rowdy Telugu Indu/Rajani
Kotta Alludu Telugu
Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam Telugu Goddess Padmavati
Mande Gundelo Telugu
1980 Challenge Ramudu Telugu Aruna
Superman Telugu Jaya
Buchchi Babu Telugu Buchi
Bandodu Gundamma Telugu
Takkar Hindi Ganga
Allari Bava Telugu
Sita Ramulu Telugu Sita
Circus Ramudu Telugu
Chandipriya Telugu Chandipriya
Chesina Baasalu Telugu
Dharm Chakram Telugu
Sannaayi Appanna Telugu
1981 Srivari Muchatlu Telugu Radha
Taxi Driver Telugu Rani/Jaya
Rahasya Goodachari Telugu
47 Natkal Tamil Vaishali Bilingual film
47 Rojulu Telugu Vaishali
Ooruki Monagadu Telugu Rekha
Jatagadu Telugu
Ragile Jwala Telugu Vani
Agni Poolu Telugu Rukmini
Prema Mandiram Telugu Madhura Ranjani
Girija Kalyanam Telugu Girija
Deepaaraadhana Telugu
1982 Madhura Swapnam Telugu
Kaamchor Hindi Geeta Sanghvi
Baawri Hindi Gayatri
Talli Kodukula Anubandham Telugu
Pagabattina Simham Telugu
Meghasandesam Telugu Padma
Dil-e-Nadaan Hindi Asha
Swayamvaram Telugu
Nivuru Gappina Nippu Telugu
Devata Telugu Janaki
Krishnarjunulu Telugu
1983 Sagara Sangamam Telugu Madhavi
Nijam Chepithe Nerama Telugu Rajani
Qayamat Hindi Geeta
Mawaali Hindi Nisha Verma
Mundadugu Telugu Padma
Kaviratna Kalidasa Kannada Vidyadhare and Shakuntala
Adavi Simhalu Telugu Lalita
Puli Bebbuli Telugu Sita
Siripuram Monagadu Telugu
Amarajeevi Telugu Lalita
Main Awara Hoon Hindi Bela
Praja Rajyam Telugu
1984 Tohfa Hindi Janki
Tandava Krishnudu Telugu Vani
Dharm Aur Qanoon Hindi Shanta
Yuddham Telugu
Mera Faisla Hindi Nisha Dhawan
Sharaabi Hindi Meena
Maqsad Hindi Rani
Naya Kadam Hindi Bijlee
Haisiyat Hindi Sita
Awaaz Hindi Anu
Sampoorna Premayanam Telugu Prema
Sangeeta Samrat Telugu Radha
1985 Pataal Bhairavi Hindi Rajkumari Indumati Singh
Maha Sangramam Telugu
Maha Manishi Telugu
Surya Chandra Telugu Pooja
Sanjog Hindi Yashoda & Asha
Hoshiyar Hindi Radha
Zabardast Hindi Mala Saigal
Iniyum Katha Thudarum Malayalam Nimmi Malayalam debut
Haqeeqat Hindi Bharti
Sur Sangam Hindi
Mera Saathi Hindi Raagini
1986 Krishna Garadi Telugu
Tandra Paparayudu Telugu Jyothirmai
Singhasan Hindi Alaknanda
Simhasanam Telugu Alaknanda Devi
Veta Telugu
Aakhree Raasta Hindi Mary D'Costa
Swarag Se Sunder Hindi Laxmi Choudhary
Muddat Hindi Bharti
Pyaar Ke Do Pal Hindi Geeta
Aisa Pyaar Kahan Hindi Sarita
Ugra Narasimham Telugu Jyothi
1987 Aulad Hindi Yashoda
Majaal Hindi Sandhya
Thene Manasulu Telugu
Viswanatha Nayakudu Telugu Kalavati
Insaaf Kaun Karega Hindi Sitara Devi
Sindoor Hindi Laxmi
1988 Mardon Wali Baat Hindi
Samsaram Telugu Padmavathi
Ganga Tere Desh Mein Hindi Dr.Asha
Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati Hindi Saraswati
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Hindi Sita
Kaliyuga Karnudu Telugu Lakshmi
1989 Jaadugar Hindi Meena
Main Tera Dushman Hindi Jaya
Souten Ki Beti Hindi Rukmini
Elaan-E-Jung Hindi Reema
Atha Mechina Alludu Telugu
Kanoon Ki Awaaz Hindi
Paraya Ghar Hindi
Hum Bhi Insaan Hain Hindi
Gharana Hindi Naina
Sumangali Telugu
1990 Majboor Hindi Sharda
Zakhmi Zameen Hindi Radha
Aaj Ka Arjun Hindi Gauri
Thanedaar Hindi Sudha
Ekalavya Kannada
Nyay Anyay Hindi Rama Khanna
1991 Indrajeet Hindi Shanti Devi
Veerta Hindi
Farishtay Hindi
1992 Maa Hindi Mamta
Tyagi Hindi Mrs. Parvati Dayal
Aathma Bandhana Kannada Shanti
1993 Insaniyat Ke Devta Hindi
Manikantana Mahime Kannada Kamala Identical twin
Ezhai Jaathi Tamil
Dhartiputra Hindi
Khal-Naaikaa Hindi Jaya Varsha
1994 Insaaniyat Hindi
Jeevitha Khaidi Telugu
Chauraha Hindi Pooja
1995 Himapatha Kannada Naina
Paappi Devataa Hindi Rosie
1996 Pellala Rajyam Telugu Jagratha
1997 Jeevan Yudh Hindi Rani
Prema Geethe Kannada Radha
Lav Kush Hindi Seeta
1998 Aami Sei Meye Bengali Bengali debut
1999 Habba Kannada Vishnu's Wife
2000 Devadoothan Malayalam Angelina Ignatious / Aleena
Aadhar Marathi
Shabdavedhi Kannada Vatsala
2003 Sri Renukadevi Kannada Jogamma
2004 Khakee Hindi Jaya Srivastav
Ee Snehatheerathu Malayalam Lakshmi
2006 Tathastu Hindi Dr. Nita
2007 Ee Bandhana Kannada Nandini
Maharathi Telugu Chamundeshwari
Deha Hindi
2008 Dasavathaaram Tamil Ranjitha Singh
2009 Sesh Sangat Bengali
Raaj The Showman Kannada Special appearance
2010 The Desire Hindi
English
Chinese
Gautmi's mother Multilingual film
2011 Pranayam Malayalam Grace
2012 Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Kannada Kittur Chennamma
2013 Rajjo Hindi Janki Devi
2018 Kinar Malayalam Indira
Keni Tamil
Sarabha Telugu Parvathamma
2019 Suvarna Sundari Telugu

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