7 days ago
66 Films. A Doomed Love. A Shocking End — The Tragic Story Of ‘Fatafat' Jayalakshmi
Among the actresses fondly remembered in Tamil cinema is Neerajakshi Reddy, better known by her screen name 'Fatafat Jayalakshmi'. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, she was born in 1958 and began her acting career at the young age of 13 with the Telugu film Iddaru Ammayilu. Directed by SR Puttanna Kanagal, the film featured stars like Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shoban Babu and Vanisree, and introduced her to audiences as Subraja. (News18 Tamil)
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She later appeared in the Tamil film Irulum Oliyum, where she portrayed the character Neerja. Director K Balachander, known for launching powerful female talents, cast her in Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, and renamed her Jayalakshmi. In the film, she occasionally referred to herself as 'Fatafat', a quirky nickname that stuck and eventually became part of her identity in the film industry. (News18 Tamil)
Despite her rising stardom, Jayalakshmi's life ended in heartbreak. She died by suicide after reportedly overdosing on sleeping pills. It was believed that the reason behind her tragic decision was a failed romantic relationship, which left fans and the film industry deeply shocked and saddened. (News18 Tamil)
