Jayasudha

Jayasudha Kapoor, born Sujatha Samarthi on 17 December 1957, is an Indian actress and politician best known for her work in Telugu cinema, with additional appearances in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. Over more than five decades, she has earned nine Nandi Awards from the Andhra Pradesh government and five Filmfare Awards South for her acting. She also served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Secunderabad constituency from 2009 to 2014.

She was born in Madras (now Chennai) to a Telugu-speaking family. Her father, Samarthi Ramesh Chander, followed the Brahmo Samaj faith, and her mother, Joga Bai, acted in films such as *Balanandam* (1954) and *Kalahasti Mahatyam* (1954). Her paternal grandfather was the brother of director Vijaya Nirmala’s father. Jayasudha’s first marriage, to film producer Kakarlapudi Rajendra Prasad (brother of actress Vijaya Nirmala), ended in divorce. In 1984, she married Nitin Kapoor, a cousin of actor Jeetendra; they have two sons, Nihar (born 1986) and Shreayan (born 1989).

Politically, she was elected as an MLA from Secunderabad in the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections on an Indian National Congress ticket. She later joined the Telugu Desam Party in 2016, and then moved to the YSR Congress Party in 2019.

Jayasudha made her film debut at age thirteen in the Telugu film *Pandanti Kapuram* (1972). Director K. Balachander gave her a small role in the Tamil film *Arangetram*, where she appeared alongside Kamal Haasan. She acted in several Telugu and Tamil films under Balachander’s direction, including *Sollathaan Ninaikkiren* (1973), *Naan Avanillai* (1974), and *Apoorva Raagangal*, as well as *Idhi Katha Kadhu* with Chiranjeevi. She changed her stage name to Jayasudha because another actress was already using Sujatha. Her fame grew quickly, and Telugu producers offered her strong roles.

Her first lead role as a heroine came in *Lakshmana Rekha* (1975), but it was the title role in *Jyothi*—a remake of the Hindi film *Mili* starring Jaya Bhaduri—that made her a major star in Telugu cinema. She was hailed as a successor to the legendary Telugu actress Savitri, taking on powerful roles and displaying wide range.