Jayachitra was an acting star in South Indian films of the 1970s and 1980s, consisting mostly of Tamil and Telugu films.Jayachitra was born in 1957. Her family was originally from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father Mahendra was a veterinary doctor, who had earlier worked as a lawyer. Her mother Ammaji (a.k.a. Jayasree) was an actress, who had acted in films such as the Tamil film "Mahaveeran" (1955). They moved to Chennai for work, which was where Jayachitra was born and raised as Rohini. Her grandmother looked after her, when her parents were busy with work. With her mother's encouragement, she became a child star at the age of six in the Telugu film "Bhakta Potana".When Jayachitra was in her early teens, she screen-tested for a Telugu film titled "Beedala Paatlu," but the director felt she was too young and rejected her for the role.