Vijaya's breakthrough role came in the 1960s, when she began playing leading roles in Tamil films. Her performances in movies like Thangathile Vellam (1962), Kavalkal (1963), and Aarte (1964) catapulted her to stardom, cementing her position as one of the most sought-after actresses in Tamil cinema. Her on-screen chemistry with leading men like Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R., and Jayalalithaa created some of the most memorable movie moments of the era.

Beyond the silver screen, K. R. Vijaya led a life that combined traditional values with immense success. Most notably, she is recognized as the , a symbol of her peak popularity and financial stature in the industry.

, along with several Kannada projects and a single Hindi film, Oonche Log Iconic Pairings