In the mid to late 1980s, when Sridevi found herself too busy to work with Jeetendra (and eventually too expensive), film producers were on the immediate hunt for a Sridevi-like replacement. It often came in the form of Jaya Prada, Bhanupriya, then Radha.
Any Telugu or Tamil South Indian actresses who could act, dance and be glamorous on screen were immediately given a role opposite Jeetendra/Mithun/Rishi Kapoor. Unfortunately, luck and box-office didn't favour the Sridevi-lites. Radha barely created a ripple in Hindi films, Bhanupriya found immense success in the South, and Jaya Prada, well, she was never a contender for the top spot despite being talented, beautiful.
The introduction of Radha to Bollywood media came with this rather unnecessary albeit conspicuous headline, "I'm not Sridevi, I'm Radha!" Comparison was folly, it served no one well. Oh well...
Excerpt:
Launched by Padmalaya Pictures, Radha was almost promoted as a successor to Sridevi. However Kaamyab did not work the wonders that Himmatwala did for Sridevi. Her shapely legs failed to produce the thunder of Sridevi's chubby thighs.
But though her first attempt in Hindi films was not encouraging, Radha is a much sought after actress in the South, with roles opposite heroes like Sivaji Ganesan, N.T.Rama Rao, Rajnikant, Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi. She has even overtaken her sister Ambika who has been around far longer.
But this glamorous 18-year-old was not born this way. Nor was she born as Radha. The metamorphosis from simple Udayachandrika to the snazzy Radha took place when she was in the ninth standard in school. Bharati Raja cast her opposite Karthik in Alaigal Oivathillai--and it was success from the word go. The film was a blockbuster, but in the bargain Udayachdnrika had to forego her name. Bharati Rajaa superstitiously believe that R was a lucky letter for his heroines (Radhika, Rati etc). and re-christened her Radha.
His hunch proved correct. Within a span of hardly five years Radha has acted in 51 films. Another 13 are in the making.
But despite her success she remains basically the schoolgirlish Udayachandrika. Escorted always by her nother, Radha's behaviour remains that of a child. Forcing me to put away the tape-recorder she preferred to chat rather than be interviewed formally. Her chatter was frequently interspersed with giggles, loud outbursts of laughter and excited clapping of hands. At the same time the adroitness with which she steered clear of controversies indicated an underlying maturity...
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