Jyothika has been recognized as one of the leading actress of Tamil cinema. She has been a part of some of the major blockbusters of Kollywood, opposite the leading actors of the industry. Thereafter, she went on to do a few Telugu films as well.

Jyothika was born on 18th October, 1978 in Mumbai.

Her complete name is Jyothika Sadanah. Her nick name is Jo.

Jyothika was born to a Punjabi family on October 18, 1978. Her father is Chander Sadanah, a film producer, and her mother is Seema Sadanah. Her elder sisters are Nagma (her half sister) renowned actress of yester years and Roshini. Suraj is her younger brother, who is currently working as an assistant director to Priyadarshan.

Nagma who rose to peaks during her career in South has launched Jyothika into the field and she too was successful.

After finishing school at Learners Academy School, she joined Mithibhai College of Arts to study Psychology but did not complete it as she started her acting career.

Jyothika’s debut movie was a Bollywood love story "Doli Saja Ke Rakhna" with Akshaye Khanna released in 1998.


Although Jyothika made her on-screen debut in a Hindi film, but gained recognition and acceptance largely in Tamil movies.

After a special appearance in a Tamil movie Vaali (1999) she starred in the lead role in Poovellam Kettuppar (1999) opposite Surya.


She was in the high grosser Mugavari (2000) while Khushi (2000) became a blockbuster and she won the Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award. The following year Thenali (2001), which starred Kamal Hasan and Jayaram became a hit.

Her releases in 2002 were Raja, Little John and 123.


In 2003, many of her movies did well like Kaaka Kaaka, Thirumalai and Dhool. In Perazhagan (2004) she was seen in a dual role opposite Surya, who also played a double role. She won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.




Beautiful sisters: Roshini, Jyothika and Nagma

In 2005, her role in Chandramukhi as Ganga who has a split personality was widely appreciated and she walked away with another Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. It was one of the biggest blockbusters that Tamil cinema had seen.

Jyothika was seen in movies like Vettaiyadu Villaiyadu (2006), Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (2006) and Pachaikili Muthucharam where she played a negative character for the first time in her career. She played a deaf mute girl in Mozhi (2007) with Prithviraj. The movie received a good response, which was unexpected.


Jyothika enjoyed a successful run in cinema for nearly a decade, leaving behind spectacular performances in movies like Khushi, Chandramukhi and Mozhi.

After dating with Tamil actor Surya for three years, they tied the knot in 11 September 2006 and have a daughter called Diya. After her marriage , she left the film industry, but she still continues to do ad films and some work for TV.

Although Jyothika has taken a break from films, after marriage, her versatility in acting is still well appreciated by movie lovers.