Jaya Prada

Jaya Prada Nahata (born Lalitha Rani Rao on 3 April 1962) She is an Indian actress and politician whose career encompasses Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi cinema. Widely regarded as one of the prominent actresses of her generation, she achieved considerable recognition during the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s before entering politics. She received three Filmfare Awards South and several state honours for her contributions to Indian cinema.
Born into a Telugu family in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, Jaya Prada was the daughter of Krishna Rao, a Telugu film financier, and Neelaveni, a homemaker. She studied at a Telugu-medium school and received early training in classical dance and music. Her cinematic career began at the age of fourteen when a director noticed her performance at a school annual function and offered her a brief dance sequence in Bhoomi Kosam (1976). This appearance established her as a talented dancer and subsequently led to significant roles in South Indian cinema.
Her early filmography includes Anthuleni Katha (1976), Siri Siri Muvva (1976), Sita Kalyanam (1976), Adavi Ramudu (1977), Yamagola (1977), Sanaadi Appanna (1977), Huliya Haalina Mevu (1979), and Sargam (1979). She subsequently expanded her presence in Hindi and regional cinema through films such as Ooriki Monagadu (1981), Kaamchor (1982), Kaviratna Kalidasa (1983), Sagara Sangamam (1983), Tohfa (1984), Sharaabi (1984), Maqsad (1984), Sanjog (1985), Aakhree Raasta (1986), Simhasanam (1986), Muddat (1986), Sindoor (1987), Aaj Ka Arjun (1990), Thanedaar (1990), Maa (1991), Habba (1999), Shabdavedhi (2000), Devadoothan (2000), Ee Bandhana (2007), Pranayam (2011), and Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (2012). Her performance in Sagara Sangamam (1983) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress–Telugu, while Siri Siri Muvva (1976) and Anthuleni Katha (1976) brought further special recognition.
In 1994, Jaya Prada entered politics by joining the Telugu Desam Party at the invitation of N. T. Rama Rao. She later became a Rajya Sabha member in 1996 and served as president of Telugu Mahila. Following differences with N. Chandrababu Naidu, she joined the Samajwadi Party and won the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and again in 2009. She was expelled in 2010 after openly supporting Amar Singh. She subsequently joined the Rashtriya Lok Manch, the RLD, and, in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party. She served as a Member of Parliament from Rampur from 2004 to 2014.
Jaya Prada's enduring reputation rests on her versatility, classical dance background, and sustained influence across regional and Hindi cinema. Satyajit Ray famously regarded her as one of the most beautiful faces on the Indian screen, reflecting the stature she attained during her cinematic career.