Meet actress who was considered the most beautiful face of Indian cinema, has done over 150 films, was the highest paid actress in the 80s, her name is…

India.com

24-05-2025

Meet actress who was considered the most beautiful face of Indian cinema, has done over 150 films, was the highest paid actress in the 80s, her name is...
Back to the times of the golden era of Indian cinema, when actors were considered no less than an idol figure, where stars were not only respected for their beauty but their depth and grace, there was one actress who rose to cinematic heights. She was a performer who lit up the frame without even saying a line. She was one of the highest-paid actresses in the 1980s, a figure who had many blockbusters to her name. She had worked opposite many A-listers of Bollywood, yet her story is a blend of ups and downs.
The actress we are talking about is none other than Jaya Prada. She wasn't just a star, she was a phenomenon. Born as Lalitha Rani in Andhra Pradesh, Jaya Prada was considered the 'most beautiful face in Indian cinema'. With her father having connections in the film industry, Jaya always had a connection with the screenland.
Jays started training in classical dance from a very young age, and by the age of 15, she became a well-trained dancer. Later, Jaya captivated a million of hearts with her expressive eyes and classical dance moves. Her path to the silver screen started when she performed at a school event, and a Telugu film director in the audience noticed her. He was impressed by her dancing skills and offered her a short dance sequence in his film, this was the turning point for Jaya Prada. Marking as one event that changed her career trajectory, she continued to captivate millions across Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi cinema.
Often cast alongside the top and legendary actors of Bollywood like Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, and Amitabh Bachchan, she was the most bankable female star in the 80s. Contrary to the belief of an actress's short-lived career, Jaya worked with both Dharmendra and his son Sunny Deol in different movies, which was an epitome of her timeless appeal and long career graph. She had acted in over 150 films.
But besides her professional life, which was extremely successful, her personal life was full of emotional struggles. In 1986, she married film producer Srikant Nahata, who was already married with two children. He never divorced his first wife and continued to live with her, leaving Jaya emotionally alone in a complicated marriage. Despite being legally married, she remained on the sidelines, never fully receiving the love and commitment she had hoped for.
Another sorrow she carried was not being able to have children. To fill that emptiness, she adopted her sister's son and raised him as her own. That boy later followed in her footsteps into the Tamil film industry.
Jaya also had to endure social criticism. Many labeled her 'the other woman' and taunted her for her choices. Her marriage attracted headlines and gossip, and she had to face constant emotional pressure. Still, she carried herself with dignity and continued to shine on screen.
Eventually, she stepped away from films while she was at the peak of her stardom and took the path of politics. She joined the Telugu Desam Party and later became part of the BJP.
Jaya Prada's journey shows that success doesn't always mean happiness. While the world saw a superstar, behind the fame was a woman who silently endured pain, longed for love, but emerged stronger