Rati Agnihotri

Infobox actor
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name = Rati Agnihotri


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birthdate = Birth date and age|1960|12|10|mf=y
location = Mumbai IND
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yearsactive = 1979-
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Rati Agnihotri (Hindi: रति अग्निहोत्रि, Urdu: رتِ اَگنِہوترِ) was born on December 10, 1960 to a Punjabi family in Bombay, India and is a veteran Indian actress. Her portfolio mainly includes films in Hindi-Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

Film career

Although, she came from a traditional, conservative family, she was allowed to model at age 10. [ [http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/26/stories/2004102600360100.htm "`I am where my destiny has brought me'"] , Hindu.com] 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). [ [http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/mar/10rati.htm "The return of Rati"] , Rediff.com] 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. [ [http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/03/18/stories/2004031800830100.htm " In the spotlight again"] , Hindu.com] She also starred in Telugu and Kannada films and made 32 films in just three years.

] , hero Kamal Hassan,

Rati Bows Out

Rati's love marriage to businessman and architect Anil Virwani on February 9, 1985, [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061028/asp/weekend/story_6923848.asp The Telegraph - Calcutta : Weekend ] ] coupled with her father's death [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/05/12/stories/09120224.htm The Hindu : All set for a second innings ] ] , 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 (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) [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080615/spectrum/main5.htm The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum ] ] . She also has acted on stage in plays such as "Please Divorce Me Darling" (2005) and television serials, such as Sixer (2005). She still keeps up with supporting her husband's architectural creations and devotes time to social causes like cancer, AIDS and menopause awareness for 40 plus women.

Awards & Nominations

*Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981)
*Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for [Tawaif (film) (1985) [ [http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf 1st Filmfare Awards 1953 ] ]

Trivia

She has acted in ten languages, including in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, 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

* Ru Ba Ru (2008)
* Aisa Kyon Hota Hain (2005)
* (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
* (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
* (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
* 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 i [ [http://www1.hawahawai.com/index.cfm?Page=ShowPictures&PID=417 Hawahawai.com ] ] 84)
* 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)
* 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)
* Shaukeen (1981) .... Anita
* Kalinga (????) ... Kannada
* Punnami Naagu (1980)
* Murattu Kalai (1980) .... Kannamma
* Ullasa Paravaigal (1980)
* Niram Maaratha Pookkal (1979)
* Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979)

References

External links

* [http://www.priyaclub.ru/?action=galery&page=actrises&person=rati_agnihotri&act=p&s=1 Rati Agnihotri's Photo gallery]
* [http://www1.hawahawai.com/index.cfm?Page=ViewPicture&PBig=p652.jpg&PhotoImagesID=677 Rati Agnihotri's publicity still from Tawaif (1985)]
* [http://www1.hawahawai.com/index.cfm?Page=ShowPictures&PID=417 Rati Agnihotri and co-star Jayaprada's publicity stills for the film Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai(1984)]
* [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/slideshows/80s/RatiAgnihotri.htm Rati Agnihotri's Profile]