Jayabharathi's entry into the film industry was facilitated by her father, who was a film enthusiast. She made her acting debut in 1974 with the Malayalam film "Apoorva Raagangal," directed by P. Subramaniam. Her early years in cinema were marked by a string of successful films, including "Ayiram Jenmula" and "Mulla" (1975), which catapulted her to stardom.