Born on February 13, 1944, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Jayamalini began her acting career as a child artist in the 1950s. She made her debut as a lead actress in the 1962 Tamil film "Thirupparakkum Nambi." During her early years, Jayamalini's style was influenced by the traditional and cultural fashion of South India. She often wore sarees, salwar kameez, and traditional temple jewelry, which was a staple for South Indian actresses during that era.