When Jyothika came to Telugu a few years back, nobody really gave her a chance to last long. She is not a long-race horse, the critics said snidely. She is overweight. She hams. She doesn't have the appeal and grace, they said.

But two years later, the same critics are singing her paeans as Jyothika has re-emerged strongly and is a born-again actress in both Tamil and Telugu.

In fact, she has been a revelation in Telugu. She has acted with almost all the top heroes of the day.

Her last film Mass was yet another instance of how she makes her comfortable in any kind of role. And then with Chandramukhi, she has just waltzed to great heights.

Seeing her at the 50th day celebrations of Chandramukhi here was a pleasant experience. She was casual and came across as somebody who understood the value of her success. Jyothika has a rare dignity and poise about her.

She was spontaneous in praising Rajni for her role. It was the same spontaneity that she had shown in that complex role.

Jyothika is obviously happy that she has found her Telugu film career taking off again. She is now pencilled to do Sri Ramadasu with Nagarjuna.

It will be a different kind of role and she is looking forward to the challenge.

And that is the key: Challenge. That is what has made Jyothika the heroine she is now.