Still a star

From a tomboy dressed in shorts to a heroine oozing sex appeal in sarees, it's been an eventful journey, says veteran actress Jayanthiu00a0

Actress Jayanthi flummoxed reporters when she said she thinks of goddess Chamundeshwari as her mother, Ganesha as her brother and Venkateshwara as her husband!

In reply to a question about three people she liked the most, she remarked that she loved and worshipped the three deities.

She was the first among Kannada actresses to participate in Amrutha Maathu Manthana, a weekly interactive programme, organised by film journalists in the city.

She set the tone for the evening with a walk down memory lane, reliving the highlights of her 40-year film career. "I had gone to watch a dance being filmed at a studio when director YR Swamy noticed me. He came to our house and offered me a role in the Kannada film, Jenu Goodu," she said.

By the time she turned fourteen, she had acted with NTR in a couple of Telugu films. "I have also acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi and Hindi movies," she said.

'I threw my books in a pigsty'

Jayanthi, who confessed that she was too much of a coward to lie to anyone because she feared the repercussions, said her mother was never one to excuse bad behaviour. "I still remember how amma punished me when I bunked classes and went for Nageshwar Rao's Devdas. In my excitement to go for the film, I had dumped my bag and books in a pigsty near my school! When my mother got to know of it, she was livid. She beat me with her heavy silver key bunch until my back bled," recounted the actress.u00a0

There was a role reversal of sorts when the actress quizzed the reporters in jest. "Do you know my real name?" she asked. "I was named Kamala Kumari and my mother wanted me to become a dancer.

"Even before I was offered Jenu Goodu, I happened to visit Chennai with my mother when I was 12 years old. We went to NTR's house. He pampered me and asked in jest, 'Why don't you act in films?' None of us realised that his words would prove prophetic," says Jayanthi.

'Lady-like? No way'

Jayanthi, who describes herself as a tomboy, reveals that her mom refused to dress her in frilly frocks. "Amma gave me shirts and shorts to wear throughout my childhood.u00a0 K V Reddy, who directed me in Jagadhekaveeruni Katha,u00a0 was aghast when he saw me horsing around the sets. He sat me down and taught me to behave like a propah lady," she guffaws.

Her devil-may-care attitude spilt over to her choice of films as well. "At a time when actresses played Sati Savitri roles, I played a prostitute in Masanada Hoovu. Director Puttanna Kanagal had warned me that it would be a very demanding role. Some of my so-called well-wishers told me not to risk my image by accepting such a role. But I went ahead and I was glad that I listened only to my heart and to my director. I refuse to pass judgment on any profession," she explained.

The only time the bubbly actress sounded downbeat was when she recalled instances when some people in the film industry misused her trust in them, and cheated her of money. "But my fans and their love for me has kept me going. In my time, the audience had a great deal of respect and admiration for film stars," she said.

On Annavaru

Jayanthi sheepishly confessed that when she was offered the film, Chandavalliya Thota, opposite the legendary Rajkumar, she wasn't excited because she had watched him in Bedara Kanappa. "I was horrified by his fierce costume!" she exclaimed. However, the actress has very fond memories of Rajkumar, whom she signed a slew of films with.

Bare and dare

"I was offered Miss Leelavathi when Sowcar Janaki refused the film as the role demanded that the heroine wear a swimsuit.u00a0 I won an award for the film! I went on to sign on films like Bahadur Gandu and Paropakaari," she said.

Forthcoming films

"I have a substantial role in Jambada Hudugi, which is ready for release. But more than films, what keeps me alive is my dream to open an old age home for the needy," she says.