THIS ’90s superstar worked with Salman Khan, Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi, now owns wealth worth Rs 2,000 crore - Guess who?

Before the era of pan-Indian blockbusters became a trend, one actress had already conquered multiple film industries with ease. Rambha, born as Yeedi Vijayalakshmi, was among the most recognisable stars of the late 1990s and early 2000s, appearing in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi films alongside some of Indian cinema’s biggest names.

Known for her glamorous screen presence, energetic dance numbers and commercial entertainers, Rambha built an enviable career that continues to be remembered fondly by fans even today.

Rambha’s debut film became a major breakthrough

Rambha began her acting journey with the Malayalam musical drama ‘Sargam’ in 1992. Directed by Hariharan, the film featured her as Thankamani, a simple village girl deeply connected to music.Despite being new to the industry and unfamiliar with the language, Rambha impressed audiences with her performance.

The film turned into both a commercial and critical success, eventually emerging as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year. It also received National Award recognition, giving the young actress instant visibility.Soon after, she entered Telugu cinema with ‘Aa Okkati Adakku’ opposite Rajendra Prasad. Interestingly, it was during this phase that she adopted the screen name Rambha, which later became hugely popular across industries.

Rambha’s successful run opposite South Indian superstars

Following her early success, Rambha went on to work with several leading stars from South Indian cinema. Over the years, she appeared alongside Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Chiranjeevi, Vijayakanth, Ajith Kumar, Thalapathy Vijay, Venkatesh, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Jagapati Babu, Prabhu, Krishna and Karthik.One of her most memorable career moments came in 1996 when the song “Azhagiya Laila” from ‘Ullathai Allitha’ became a massive sensation.

The track turned Rambha into a household name and further strengthened her popularity among audiences.Her filmography later expanded with commercially successful titles like ‘Arunachalam’, ‘Hitler’, ‘Chronic Bachelor’, ‘Ninaithen Vandhai’, ‘Kaathala Kaathala’, ‘Maatho Pettukoku’, ‘Dharma Chakkaram’, ‘Raasi’, ‘Endrendrum Kadhal’, ‘Champakulam Thachan’, ‘Sidhartha’, ‘Muddula Priyudu’, ‘Allari Premikudu’ and ‘Rowdy Annayya’.

Rambha’s Bollywood films with Salman Khan and Govinda

Rambha stepped into Hindi cinema in 1995 with ‘Jallad’, where she starred opposite Mithun Chakraborty. She later shared screen space with actors like Anil Kapoor, Govinda and Suniel Shetty in several commercial entertainers.However, it was her pairing with Salman Khan that received tremendous love from audiences. The duo featured together in David Dhawan’s hit comedy ‘Judwaa’ and later appeared in the family drama ‘Bandhan’.

Both films played a key role in making Rambha a familiar face among Hindi film viewers.

From superstar heroine to businesswoman

Though Rambha gradually reduced her film appearances after marriage, reports over the years have frequently highlighted her impressive financial growth through investments and business ventures. According to News18, today, the former actress is believed to have a net worth close to Rs 2,000 crore, making her one of the wealthiest actresses from her generation. Even years after stepping away from mainstream cinema, Rambha continues to enjoy immense popularity among fans who still remember her as one of the defining stars of the ’90s era.