A letter purportedly hand written by the departed leader J Jayalalithaa, in her own handwriting in June 1980, hints of her desire to quit films and join politics. The letter also makes suggestions of her imminent political entry and how she had lost interest in acting in films.

The letter purportedly written by the then actor, on June 10, was addressed to an Editor of Khasbhat magazine, and indicates her desire to shun films for the prospect of a fruitful career (politics).

Peppered with unmistakable suggestions, “I am no longer interested in films…. my interest lies in a different direction altogether”, drive home the fact that Jayalalithaa had already started contemplating her entry into politics, which ultimately happened in 1982, when she joined the AIADMK as an ordinary member.

The very next year, she was made the Propaganda Secretary and rose to Rajya Sabha MP in 1984, before becoming opposition leader in 1989 and finally, assuming the office of Chief Minister in 1991.

The letter, written in a letter pad with the address of Vedanilayam, 30, Poes Garden, inscribed on the top right corner and her name Jayalalitha emblazoned in stylistic font on the top left corner, deals with correcting misrepresentations from an interview she had given to a magazine earlier.

Explaining that she had shunned a “dazzling offer” as a female lead in ‘Billa’, a Rajnikanth-starrer produced by Balaji, the former actress states that “if I am not acting in films now, it is not due to lack of good offers…. If I am capable of turning down such a dazzling offer; does that prove conclusively that I am not struggling to stage a comeback?” she queries in the letter.