- Born
- Height5′ 4½″ (1.64 m)
- Rati Agnihotri was born on December 10, 1960 to a Punjabi family in
Bombay, India, and has an older sister and brother. Although, she came from a traditional, conservative
family, she was allowed to model at age 10, since her sister Anita was a Miss Young India. 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. Bharati Raja, one of Tamil Nadu's famous film director,
was in the audience and was on the lookout 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. Bharati Raja soon directed her in her second film,
Neeram Maradapukal (1979). Even though she was Punjabi, South Indian
audiences embraced her as if she was truly one of their own, and she
reciprocated the feeling 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 Haasan, Rajinikanth, Shobhan Babu,
Chiranjeevi, Vishnuvardhan, N.T. Rama Rao, Krishna, and Nageshwara Rao.
Ironically, her entry into Hindu films came from her strong connection
to South Indian cinema. She had worked with director K. Balanchander
once before and had been Kamal Haasan'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 introduced into Hindi films the 5 stars of the South Indian film
industry: director K. Balachander, hero Kamal Haasan, heroine Rati
Agnihotri, supporting actress Madhavi, and playback singer S.P.
Balasubramaniam. Although all received Filmfare nominations, only Rati
and S.P. Balasubramaniam were the real beneficiaries, both becoming 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), and Tawaif (1985) for which she received her second Filmfare
nomination as Best Actress.
Her father's death along with her marriage to businessman and architect
Anil Virwani on February 9, 1985 convinced Rati to leave Hindi films
when she was still at the top. In 1987, her only son Tanuj was born,
and she concentrated on raising him and focusing on other creative
interests, such as designing her husband's architectural creations. She
also received a degree in Reike, 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. After 16 years of saying no, she finally said yes realizing
that her son is growing up and she had more time for herself. Her
family supported her decision. She returned to films by 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 Majnu (2001). She also made her Malayalam debut
in Anyar (2003) and English debut in An Ode to Lost Love (2003). 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. In 2010, she supported her son Tanuj Virwani's decision to enter
films as an actor. In 2015, she separated from her husband.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ramstep
- SpouseAnil Virwani(February 9, 1985 - March 2015) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- RelativesAnita Agnihotri(Sibling)Atul Agnihotri(Cousin)
- When Rati married businessman and architect Anil Virwani in February
1985, she gave up films for 16 years and came back after her teenage
son Tanuj encouraged her to do so. - She is Punjabi but settled in Madras, Tamil Nadu when she was a
teenager because her father's job took them there. - When Rati was just 16 years old, director Bharati Raja saw her in a
school play and cast her as the heroine in the Tamil film "Pudhiya
Varpukkal" (1979), which made her an overnight star in South Indian
films. - She didn't know the Tamil language, so her leading man on her first
film, Bhagyaraj, wrote the dialogues for her in Hindi and would explain
them to her in English, and she spoke the lines in Tamil. She quickly
learned the language and can now speak in near perfect Tamil, and later
Telugu and Kannada as well. - After doing South Indian films (Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada), she became
a star in Hindi films with her first Hindi film "Ek Duje Ke Liye"
(1981), which ironically, was a remake of a Telugu blockbuster "Maro
Charitra" (1979) starring a different heroine (Saritha) but same
director (K. Balachander), hero (Kamal Hassan), supporting actress
(Madhavi).
- I am a Tamilian at heart, a Punjabi by default.
- Her reaction when director Bharati Raja offered her the heroine role in
her first film: "Well, I was so excited... what else will a 16-year-old
girl be if she is approached by the topmost director of the time for
his film? I was ecstatic! For me, it was a big picnic! The film became
a blockbuster in 1979, one thing led to another and I worked in 32
films in three years!" - When asked what she did after she left films for 15 years: "When Tanuj
was born, he occupied most of my time and attention. But I have always
been active in something creative. All these candles you see all over
the house are designed and created by me. I paint a lot and do stained
glass. I look into the aesthetic aspects of [husband] Anil's
constructions, like, after a building is ready, I help in designing the
foyers and the landscaping. I have always been very fond of creating
things -- I even do sculptures from rocks. I make my own dry flowers
too." - I am very organised. I think it is a birth defect. I cannot be haphazard even if I try!
- When asked which are her best Hindi films: "Starting with Ek Duje Ke
Liye, which is more than apparent! Then Tawaif, Shubkamana, Mujhe
Insaaf Chahiye and Shaukeen - which I really enjoyed doing and I think
it was one of my better films as I have good memories of the same. Then
Coolie, Mazdoor and perhaps a few more."
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