Film career
Although she came from a traditional, conservative family, she was allowed to model at age 10. When she was a teenager, her father relocated the family to Madras, Tamil Nadu because of his job. There, she attended Good Shepherd's Convent School and acted in a school play. Bharathiraja, one of Tamil film's famous directors, was in the audience and was searching for a heroine to star in his new film. He met with Rati's father and promised the film would wrap in a month. Her father reluctantly agreed, and a sixteen-year-old Rati was very excited to star in her first film, Pudhiya Varpukal (1979).
It was also her hero Bhagyaraj's first film, and he coached her with her lines by teaching her Tamil. The film became a blockbuster, with Rati an overnight sensation. Bharathiraja soon directed her in her second film, Niram Marada Pookkal (1979). Even though she was Punjabi, South Indian audiences embraced her as one of their own. She reciprocated by calling herself "Tamilian at heart" and calling "Madras" her home. She also starred in Telugu and Kannada films and made 32 films in just three years.
She worked with big banners and top stars, such as Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth. Ironically, her entry into Hindi films came from her strong connection to South Indian cinema. She had worked with director K. Balachander once before and had been Kamal Hassan's leading lady in many South Indian films, so she wasn't surprised when they approached her for the Hindi remake of their Telugu blockbuster, Marocharithra (1979). Now re-titled Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981), the film was about passionate lovers who are torn apart by their parents in the storytelling tradition of Romeo and Juliet. It became the top grossing hit of 1981 and marked the debut into Hindi films of 5 stars of the South Indian film industry: director K. Balachander, hero Kamal Hassan, heroine Rati Agnihotri, supporting actress Madhavi, and playback singer S.P. Balasubramaniam. Although all received Filmfare nominations, only Rati and S.P. Balasubramaniam became top stars in their field. The unforgettable musical score by Laxmikant-Pyarelal rose the film to soaring heights, and there were rumors about how the film's love story about tragic lovers inspired real life lovers to take their own lives. Rati's father, who was also managing her career, shielded her from the hysteria as she was still so young. He effectively kept her starring in only Hindi films after Ek Duje Ke Liye, and she ended the decade starring in over 43 Hindi films. Her biggest hits were Shaukeen (1982), Farz Aur Kanoon (1982), Coolie (1983) opposite megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and Tawaif (film) (1985) for which she received her second Filmfare nomination as Best Actress.
Rati Bows Out
Rati's love marriage to businessman and architect Anil Virwani on 9 February 1985, coupled with her father's death, convinced Rati to leave Hindi films when she was still at the top. In 1987, she gave birth to her only child Tanuj Virmani, and she concentrated on raising him and focusing on other creative interests like architectural creations for her husband. She also received a degree in Reiki, where she distantly heals people. Even though she retired from films, she would still appear at film events looking beautiful and glamorous, and as a result, the film offers kept coming in.
Return
After 16 years of saying no to films, Rati finally said yes realizing that her son is growing up and she had more time for herself. Her family supported her decision. Her comeback started with playing Kajol's glamorous mother in Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001). More film offers came in, and she took them, such as Yaadein (2001) and Dev (film) (2004). After a 20-year absence from South Indian films, she returned to the South in the Tamil film Majunu (2001). She also made her Malayalam debut in Anyar (2003), English debut in An Ode to Lost Love (2003), and Bengali debut in Aaina-te (2008). She also has acted on stage in plays such as "Please Divorce Me Darling" (2005) and television serials, such as Sixer (2005). Besides acting, she devotes time to social causes like cancer and AIDS.
Awards and nominations
* Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981)
* Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Tawaif (film) (1985)
Trivia
She has acted in ten languages, including, but not limited to Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Punjabi and English.
Her cousin is actor-writer-director Atul Agnihotri, and she played a part of a cardiac surgeon in his film Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004).
In 2006, Rati and her husband opened a shopping mall called Virwani Plaza in Pune, where one of the stores "Om to Home – Candles and More in the Mall" houses artefacts, exclusive fashion accessories, and candles all personally designed by the actress.
Rati played Nayantara Pratap Singh in a serial named Kaajjal on SET Asia. She recently quit the show because of problems with the production company.
Her sister, Anita Agnihotri (Miss India) lives in Szczecin, Poland and owns an Indian restaurant "Bombay".
Filmography
* Luck(2009)
* Ru Ba Ru (2008)
* Aisa Kyon Hota Hain (2005)
* Pehchaan: The Face of Truth (2005).... Uttara D. Khanna
* Socha Na Tha (2005) .... Aditi's aunt
* Ho Jaata Hai Pyaar (2005)
* Kis Kis Ki Kismat (2004) .... Mrs. Kokila Hasmukh Mehta
* Shukriya: Till Death Do Us Apart (2004) .... Sandhya K. Jindal
* Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004) .... Dr. Shashi Rawat
* Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004) .... Meenakshi, Arjun's mum
* Dev (2004) .... Dr. Bharati Singh
* Hum Tum (2004) .... Anju Kapoor, Karan's mother
* Dukaan: Pila House (2004) .... Wahidanbai
* Krishna Cottage (2004)
* Anyar (2003)
* Chupke Se (2003) .... Almera Kochar
* Kaante (2002) .... Major's wife
* Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002) .... Smita Mittal
* Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) .... Maya Esha's Bua/aunt
* Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai (2002) .... Naina's mother
* Kranti (2002) .... Sushma Singh
* Majunu (2001)
* Yaadein (2001) .... Shalini Singh Puri (Special Appearance)
* Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001) .... Archana Khanna
* Jaan-E-Wafa (1990)
* Zalzala (1988) .... Radha Shiv Kumar
* Albela (1987 film) (1987)
* Hukumat (1987)
* Itihaas (1987)
* Dadagiri (1987) .... Deepa (Special appearance)
* Dil Tujhko Diya (1987)
* Mera Suhag (1987)
* Ek Aur Sikander (1986) .... Doctor
* Zindagani (1986)
* Aap Ke Saath (1986) .... Deepa/Salma
* Babu (1985) .... Pinky
* Bepanaah (1985) .... Bhavna Bhardwaj
* Tawaif (film) (1985) .... Sultana
* Bhawani Junction (1985)
* Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1985)
* Ek Se Bhale Do (1985)
* Jaanoo (1985)
* Karishma Kudrat Kaa (1985) .... Radha (Vijay's sister)
* Triveni (1985)
* Ulta Seedha (1985) .... Shobha Roy
* Zabardast (1985) .... Sunita
* John Jani Janardhan (1984) .... Madhu
* Mashaal (1984) .... Geeta
* All Rounder (1984) .... Ritu
* Boxer (1984) .... Rajni Khatau
* Mera Faisla (1984) .... Rati Verma
* Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai (1984)[13]
* Rakta Bandhan (1984) .... Roopa
* Coolie (1983) .... Julie D'Costa
* Mujhe Insaaf Chahiye (1983)
* Main Awara Hoon (1983)
* Mazdoor (1983) .... Smita Batra/Smita Ramesh Saxena
* Pasand Apni Apni (1983) .... Geeta
* Rishta Kagaz Ka (1983)
* Shubh Kaamna (1983) .... Sujata
* Star (1982 film) (1982) .... Maya
* Waqt Ke Shehzade (1982)
* Ayaash (1982)
* Farz Aur Kanoon (1982)
* Johnny I Love You (1982)
* Kaliyuga Ramudu (1982) ....Sandhya
* Sumbandh (1982)
* Swami Dada (1982) .... Seema
* Sahhas (1981)
* Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981) .... Sapna
* Tirugu Leni Manishi (1981)
* Do Dil Diwane (1981)
* Jeene Ki Arzoo (1981)
* Satyam Shivam (1981) ....Rekha
* Jagamondi (1981)
* Shaukeen (1981) .... Anita
* Kazhugu (1981,Tamil)
* Kalinga (1980) ... Kannada
* Punnami Naagu (1980)
* Murattu Kalai (1980) .... Kannamma
* Ullasa Paravaigal (1980)
* Andala Raasi (1980)
* Niram Maaratha Pookkal (1979)
* Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979)
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