Jayasudha was born as Sujatha to a Telugu speaking family in Madras, Tamil Nadu on 17 December 1958. Her aunt is the famous actress and director Vijaya Nirmala. Jayasudha made her film debut when she was twelve years old as Jamuna’s daughter in the Telugu film Panduntikaapuram. Her next break came in two Tamil films directed by the celebrated director K. Balachander: Arangettram and Apoorva Raagangal.