Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's interest in pursuing a career in films had begun to wane a few years prior to her formal induction into the AIADMK in 1982.
According to a letter written by Jayalalithaa, the charismatic leader who worked in over 140 movies over a span of three decades, turned down many "excellent offers" from the industry in those years.
Dated 10 June 1980, the letter was addressed to one "Piousji" of Khaas Baat, a publication house, in response to an article published by them that claimed she was "struggling" to make a come-back into films.
The letter was posted online by Brian Laul, who “was taking over the mantle of Piousji (‘Khaas Bhat’ column) from dear Arthur Pais.”
On a Poes Garden letterhead, Jayalalithaa wrote, "I feel constrained to point out that I'm not, I repeat, not 'struggling to stage a come-back'. I am at a loss to understand how you gained this erroneous impression."
She went on to clarify:
Jayalalithaa went on to mention that she was, at that point, no longer interested in a career in films.
The rest, as they say, is history.
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