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Aarathi (born as Bharathi in 1954)^[3][4] is a former Indian actress and director who prominently worked in Kannada films during the 1970s and 1980s. Her accolades include four Karnataka State Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards. Aarathi has also appeared in a few Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.

Aarathi made her acting debut with the Kannada film Gejje Pooje (1969), playing a supporting role. She rose to prominence by her collaborations with Kannada filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal in the novel adaptation dramas Upasane (1974), Shubhamangala (1975), Bili Hendthi (1975), Dharmasere (1979) and Ranganayaki (1981). She received widespread critical acclaim for the social superhit Naagarahaavu (1972), for which she won her first Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress. Her other notable roles include Bangaarada Panjara (1974), Daari Tappida Maga (1975), Katha Sangama (1976), Premada Kanike (1976) and Hombisilu (1978).

After her retirement from films in 1986, she made a comeback in 2005 as a director with Mithayi Mane which was met with critical appreciation and also won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Children's Film.^[5] She was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council of the Vidhana parishad, making her the second actress after B. Jayamma to be nominated.^[6]

Aarathi made her film debut with the film Gejje Pooje (1969) directed by Puttanna Kanagal playing a short role as the sister of lead actor Gangadhar. Her first lead role came with the Samiulla directed comedy film, Takka Bitre Sikka (1970), where she played the love interest of actor Srinath. Following this, she featured in supporting roles in several films including Rajkumar starrers Kasturi Nivasa (1971), Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama (1971), Bangarada Manushya (1972) and went on to play lead roles opposite him in Sipayi Ramu (1972), Bhale Huchcha (1972), Bahaddur Gandu (1976), Premada Kanike (1976) and Raja Nanna Raja (1976) .

Her first breakthrough came when Puttanna Kanagal cast her as Alamelu in Naagarahaavu (1972). She gained widespread recognition and accolades for playing a soft spoken girl who ends up living a tragic life post her marriage. Actor Vishnuvardhan made his debut with this film and gained instant popularity and the pair went on to star in several films together in future. Aarathi won her first Karnataka State Film Award for her portrayal of the character. The film ran for over 20 weeks across theaters in Karnataka and was remade in several other languages.^[7]

Kanagal offered her to star in his films back to back right from Gejje Pooje in 1970 up until their final association in Ranganayaki in 1981. During the making of Bili Hendthi (1975), the duo secretly married even though Kanagal was already married.^[8] Kanagal wrote several author-backed character roles for Aarathi and cast her in female-centric films. Their combination produced successful films such as Naagarahaavu (1972), Edakallu Guddada Mele (1973), Upasane (1974), Bili Hendthi (1975), Shubhamangala (1975), Paduvaaralli Pandavaru (1978), Dharmasere (1979) and Ranganayaki (1981). They did not collaborate in films after Ranganayaki, due to their separation. Aarathi won all her eight awards (four Karnataka State awards and four Filmfare South awards) for movies directed by Kanagal.

Besides her successful films with Kanagal, Aarathi found success in all her collaborations with top actors Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Ambareesh, Anant Nag and Tiger Prabhakar. Starting from the supporting role in magnum opus Kasturi Nivasa (1971), she was repeatedly cast opposite Rajkumar in as many as 12 films which were successful at the box-office and critically acclaimed. Her most successful pairing was with Vishnuvardhan with whom she worked in 16-17 films including Hanthakana Sanchu (1980), Bangarada Jinke (1980), Pedda Gedda (1982), Kalluveene Nudiyithu (1983), Khaidi (1984) and Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu (1986).

Aarathi featured in several female-centered films by other top directors like Mahathyaga (1974), Hombisilu (1978), Manini (1979), Vasantha Lakshmi (1978), Anurakthe (1980), Nyaya Ellide, Mullina Gulabi, Archana, Kannu Theresida Hennu (1982), Samarpane (1983) and Sati Sakkubai (1985). She retired from acting after her second marriage in 1986 and Tiger was her last film to release.

• Aarathi at IMDb