Jayalalithaa's 'Stinker' To Journalist About Turning Down Rajinikanth Film

As the country mourns the death of J Jayalalithaa, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, social media is filled with tributes and memories of the film star-turned-politician. Australia-based Brian Laul has shared an old, scathing letter written by Ms Jayalalithaa. "She wasn't Amma or Puratchi Thalaivi or CM then, just a fiery, artistic 32-year-old with an enormous personality and the will to succeed at whatever she set her heart on," Mr Laul says on Facebook.

In the 1980 letter, addressed to a 'Piousji' for a magazine column called 'Khaas Baat', Ms Jayalalithaa clarified that she wasn't "struggling to stage a comeback" and had in fact turned down an offer to work with superstar Rajinikanth.

"Perhaps you don't know that the heroine's role in Balaji's "Billa", opposite Rajinikanth, was first offered to me. It was only after I refused to do the film that Balaji signed Sripriya for the role. Balaji himself has admitted this publicly," Ms Jayalalithaa wrote. She also went on to say that there was no necessity for her to "stage a comeback" anyway since she was no longer interested in a film career and was also comfortable financially.

"Stinkers are part of a journo's life, especially when you're writing filmi gossip columns. You read them, have a laugh and throw them in the bin. But this one, I actually kept from 1980, from the period when I was taking over the mantle of Piousji ('Khaas Bhat' column) from dear Arthur Pais," Mr Laul says in his post, calling it one of the most articulate and logical stinkers he's ever received.

Since it was shared on Tuesday, the post has received over 500 shares and numerous comments on Facebook. "Awesome...felt like listening to her directly. Such a strong personality," says one commenter. "Brian this is worth many times its weight in gold... so well articulated, such neat writing all in straight lines... what a pity she could not pursue her dream careers," says another.
 

Ms Jayalalithaa, 68, died on Monday in Chennai's Apollo hospital. Actor Rajinikanth was among those who visited Rajaji Hall to pay their last respects on Tuesday.