| Looking back, how do you feel about your life? |
| I feel I led a satisfactory life. Very few people from traditional families have become film actors in my generation. I could survive as a successful actress for about three decades without losing my self-respect. I haven't started as a small time actor. I began as a heroine and remained as one for 25 years. It's a record. I received many awards, felicitations and more than that people bestowed their affection on me. I have risen to the peaks of career as a heroine.
Coming to my family life, I married a man, arranged by my elders, from outside the industry. My husband Ramana Rao Garu was a professor. I am blessed with a son and a daughter. Son Vamsi is a professor in mass communications in California while my daughter Sravanthi is also studying mass communications. I also played my role in politics. Worked as a member of Parliament and the president of state mahila Congress. When I was the chairperson of the Nataka Academy I helped thousands of poor artistes with house sites, instruments and pensions.
I never had any bad habits. I do not even know the taste of non vegetarian food or alcohol. I led my life in a disciplined and traditional way. Thus I feel I lived my life completely and satisfactorily. |
| Could you elaborate on your personality? |
| I have been sensitive all along, coupled with discipline. I never gave up my self-respect and confidence. There were a few incidents that tried to demoralize me but I haven't compromised. They in fact helped me keep myself a special person. I owe this to my parents and the values they imbibed in me. |
| Could you cite those demoralizing incidents..? |
| Two top heroes who are known as two eyes of the industry tried to brand me like "Jamuna is head strong, she doesn't respect us, she doesn't stand up when we come, she doesn't care for and we don't want to work with her". They banned me from acting with them. But the issue was different. One of those two top actors had an eye on me. When I didn't allow him he turned against me and started this campaign. He misled the other hero too. But when I haven't done any wrong why should I fear? So I worked with other heroes in those three years. You would see me working with heroes like Jaggaiah, Kantha Rao, Balayya, Ramana Murthy and Satyanarayana between 1959 and 1961. Some elders from the industry interfered and resolved the issue. Once again in 1962 we started working together. |
| According to you what is important to succeed in this industry, talent or luck? |
| Talent is important but it alone will not help. You need to have luck too. I could survive as a heroine for 25 years because luck was added to my talent. |
| You acted in some Hindi films too and some of them are hits. Why didn't you continue there? |
| When Moogamanasulu was remade as Milan in Hindi I played my role in Hindi too for which I received Filmfare award too. Before that also I acted some commercially successful films. But with Filmfare award I was flooded with offers. Many advised me to shift to Bombay. But I was hesitant for two reasons. First they value only success and nothing else. If two films flop continuously, you are out from the industry. But in South they respect and respond to actors irrespective of success and failure and the environment is homely. Secondly by then I was married for a year. I had to leave my family and career, which was on the top then to go to Bombay. I didn't like the thought and reduced my films in Hindi and stayed back. |
| You acted with many actors. Do you like any of them particularly? |
| I feel Sivaji Ganeshan is the one who acts any role with great passion and ease. Then it is our N T Rama Rao garu and S V Ranga Rao garu. In pauranic roles Rama Rao garu is an actor without any comparison. I not only liked him as an actor but also as an individual. He never interfered in the matters of others and does his work. He was a highly disciplined artist. I touched the feet of Rama Rao Garu only after my parents and my husband. On the eve of Silver Jubilee celebrations of my career I touched his feet for blessings. |
| But you differed with him later in politics..? |
| In fact, I never wanted to enter politics in the beginning but I personally liked Indira Gandhi. When she invited me personally I couldn't say no. When we worked in different parties and believed different theories it's natural to differ. Though I liked him very much personally I had to criticise him politically. But I still complement him for making Hyderabad beautiful. |
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| Do you feel any shortcoming either in politics or in films? |
| I have seen the peaks in films. And entered politics to serve people as much as I can. That was not to gain any name in politics. Jamuna is a well established name. I am settled financially. As an MP and Mahila Congress president I worked with Congress. When I differed with their methods I resigned from the party and continuing in the BJP. If I wanted designations only I would have gained in BJP. It's the same case with Padmashree and doctorate also. I can't stoop down for recommendations. How long is this race? I want to lead a peaceful life looking after my family and serving the party and people. |
| How ware your relations with your co actresses? Do you like anybody specially? |
| I like G Varalakshmi very much. She used to play different characters even while playing heroine roles. Then Savithri Akkayya. She was a good actress and we were like sisters. In those days we all used to behave as one family. Those days were different. |
| If you have rebirth like in Moogamanasulu, how do you want to born again? |
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I don't know if it exists. Even if such thing is there I don't have a specific wish. I must have done many good things in my last birth and that's why god has given me good life in this birth. I lead a good and useful life in this birth too. So if there is a rebirth I will definitely have a good one. | |
| If you had not entered films what would you have become? |
| As I entered films in childhood I never had any second thought. But my father wanted to make me a doctor when I was a child. |
| Thanks Jamuna Garu for elaborating on many issues and TeluguCinema.com wishes you a happy Birth Day. |
| Oh! Thank you very much. |
