A veteran actress has shared nostalgic memories of her unexpected entry into the film industry, her first shot with legendary actor MGR, and how she spent her very first salary. Beginning her journey as a teenager in Madras (now Chennai), she recalled the vibrant atmosphere of early South Indian cinema, where she transitioned from stage plays to major film roles.

Her career began when she filled in for a pregnant Vijayakumari in an S.S. Rajendran (SSR) theater production. Spotted by MGR and director Ramanna, she was cast in a bilingual film shot at Vauhini Studios, where her very first shot involved serving rice to MGR, who then fed her a mouthful. Around the same time, she was cast in the Malayalam film Bhagya Jathakam by Sathyan and Bhaskar Master, which became her first theatrical release.

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Under a three-year contract with SSR’s company, she received a substantial first salary of ₹6,000, of which she was given ₹50 by her mother. She used this money to buy a large bottle of gripe water, a sweet treat she had always coveted as a child. Reflecting on the intense work culture of the era at studios like AVM, she described working across three daily shifts—ranging from early morning to late-night shoots—constantly changing costumes and characters between sets.