Legendary actress Jamuna who was ailing from age related illness passed away earlier today. She was 86 and is survived by her son Vamsi and daughter Shravanti and grand children. Though she was a Telugu actress she found great success in Tamil and Kannada movies as well during the sixties and seventies.

Jamuna made her Tamil debut in 1954 with the film 'Panam Paadtum Padu' and went on to pair with the big three superstars MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan. She starred in several memorable films that include 'Missiyamma', 'Thiruttu Raman', 'Bommai Kalyanam', 'Thenali Raman', 'Nalla Theerpu', 'Marudhanathu Veeran' and 'Nichayathamboolam'. After a long gap she returned to Tamil cinema in the role of Kamal Haasan's mother in 'Thoongadhe Thambi Thoongadhe' released in 1983 which was her last venture in Kollywood.

Jamuna was reportedly the second highest paid actress after the Lady Superstar of the time Savithri Ganesan and has close to 200 films to her credit. She is said to be one of the richest personalities in Tollywood owning a bungalow surrounded by 2000 acres farm in the costly Jubilee Hills area in Hyderabad.

Jamuna was in politics and on behalf of the Congress party she contested and won the Lok Sabha elections in 1989. Later after suffering a defeat in 1991 she joined the Vajpayee-led BJP.