Gautami's Journey: From Child Artist to Cancer Survivor and Star Heroine

• Gautami debuted as a child artist at 16, quickly becoming a top heroine of the 1990s with over 120 films in 8 years across multiple languages.
• Born in Ichapuram, Srikakulam, she studied engineering in Visakhapatnam before her acting career took off with 'Dayamayudu' and 'Gandhinagar Rendava Veedhi'.
• Her personal life saw challenges, including a divorce from Sandeep Bhatia in 1999 and a 13-year live-in relationship with Kamal Haasan ending in 2016.
• At 35, she was diagnosed with Stage-3 lung cancer but fought and overcame the disease, driven by her desire to live for her daughter.
• Gautami is now involved in politics, having joined BJP and currently AIADMK, and founded the 'Life Again Foundation' to support cancer patients.

Why It Matters: Gautami's life is a testament to resilience, overcoming career hurdles, personal struggles, and Stage-3 cancer.