She was born in a Mudaliar family in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu.Later, her family moved to Mannargudi.She married to M. Natarajan, who was working as a Public Relation Officer on a temporary basis in Tamil Nadu Government.In 1976, her husband lost the job due to the Internal Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi (the then Prime Minister of India) and they had to sell or pawn jewels to sustain their livelihood.Sasikala also opened a video renting business to supplement the family income.Her husband had a close relation with V S Chandralekha (the then District Collector of Cuddalore) who further had a close relation with Ramachandran (the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu). V S Candralekha.V S Chandralekha introduced Sasikala Natarajan to Jayalalitha. Both (Sasikala Natarajan and Jayalalitha) gradually became very close.In 1995, Jayalalitha arranged a lavish marriage of her foster son V. N. Sudhakaran (the nephew of Sasikala Natarajan). The marriage attracted lots of controversies for its scale in expenditure. Sasikala with Jayalalitha at V N Sudhakarans wedding.Jayalalitha had to face lots of ire of media and party workers after the entry of Sasikala in her Poes Garden Residence as Sasikala was reported to embezzle lots of money and assets on Jayalalithas behalf. Poes Garden Residence of Jayalalitha.On 19 December 2011, Jayalalitha expelled her long-term close aide Sasikala from AIADMK, however, she was admitted back into the party on 31 March 2012.