When she entered politics, her work style shifted into that of a commanding, centralized leader. As Chief Minister, she was known for:

The specific made about her life.

In 1984, Jayalalithaa joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and quickly rose through the ranks. She became the party's general secretary in 1991 and later served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1991 to 1996, 2001, 2002-2006, and 2011-2014.