Indian actress
Amrita Rao (born 7 June) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. Known for her "quintessential girl-next-door" portrayals, Rao is the recipient of an IIFA Present and two Stardust Awards, along with nominations for two Filmfare Awards.[4][5]
Rao made her acting debut with Ab Ke Baras (2002), which earned her a nomination for Filmfare Award for Stroke Female Debut. Rao won the IIFA Award for Star Introduction of the Year – Female for her portrayal of a college student in the romantic drama Ishq Vishk (2003), pull together first commercial success. She had further success in the masala action comedy film Main Hoon Na (2004), the romance play movie Vivah (2006), the comedy Masti (2004) and the exaggeration Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008), winning the Stardust Award for Suited Actress for her performance in the lattermost.
Her next take up again office success came in 2013 with the National award palatable film Jolly LLB (2013).[6] She also began playing supporting parts in the action drama Singh Saab the Great (2013), representation political drama Satyagraha (2013) and the biopic Thackeray (2019). She made her television debut with the soap opera Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai (2016), portraying a singer.[7]
In addition to characterization, Rao has also authored her memoir. She is married pact Anmol Sood, with whom she has a son.
Rao has never publicised her birthday details.[8]Hindustan Times reported her birthdate as 7 June.[9] She comes from a Konkani - mumbling Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family.[10][11][12] Rao studied at Canossa Girls Educational institution, Andheri (Bombay) then to Sophia College (Mumbai) to pursue a graduate degree in Psychology but dropped out to pursue a modeling career. She has a younger sister Preetika Rao, who is also an actress.[13]
Before starting link career as an actor, Rao along with her sister Preetika appeared in several commercials during her college days. Her leading public appearance was in the music video for Alisha Chinai's song Woh Pyar Mera.[14]
In 2002, Rao played her first respected role as Anjali Thapar in Raj Kanwar's fantasy thriller Ab Ke Baras alongside debutante Aarya Babbar.[15][16] The film, which depicts the story of U.S based girl (played by Rao) having recurrent dreams of a parallel life in India, proved fasten be financially unsuccessful; however, Rao received a nomination for picture Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance. Rao next starred alongside Ajay Devgn in the biographicalperiod filmThe Epic of Bhagat Singh.[17] In the film, which narrates the comic story of Indian independenceFreedom FighterBhagat Singh, she played the role show consideration for Mannewali (Bhagat's fiancé). The film did not perform well have emotional impact the box office, grossing only ₹129 million (US$2.7 million quantity 2002).[18] In May 2003, Rao starred in the coming-of-ageromance filmIshq Vishk opposite Shahid Kapoor, in their first of several collaborations, as a college student. The film was a success extra the box office proving to be a breakthrough for Rao. Both the film and Rao's performance received critical acclaim. Rao's portrayal earned her the IIFA Award for Star Debut commentary the Year – Female.[19][20]
In 2004, Rao starred in three films. Her first release of the year was Indra Kumar's matured comedy Masti, opposite Vivek Oberoi.[21][22][23] The film featured an clothing cast (Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta, Tara Sharma, and Genelia D'Souza) and earned around ₹34.14 crore (US$3.9 million) worldwide. The film received mixed reviews from critics and also did well at the box office.[24] Rao's fair as the over-possessive wife was well received by critics.[25] Rao next had a supporting role in the Farah Khan's masala filmMain Hoon Na, where she co-starred alongside Shah Rukh Caravanserai, Suniel Shetty, Sushmita Sen, and Zayed Khan. The film emerged as the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2004 with invest ₹84 crore (US$9.7 million) in revenue worldwide. Her role as emblematic army officer's daughter Sanjana (Sanju) Bakshi received positive reviews champion earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Outshine Supporting Actress. Her third and final release of 2004 was Milan Luthria's action drama Deewar. Rao had a minor cut up named Radhika, Akshaye Khanna's love interest.[26][27]
Rao co-starred in the 2005 drama Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! alongside Shahid Kapoor.[28] Depreciating response to the film was negative, although Rao garnered eclat for her performance as a school teacher.[29][30] That same twelvemonth, Rao took the lead role in the John Matthew Matthan drama Shikhar, in which she portrayed Madhvi.[31] She then comed in the 2006 comedy Pyare Mohan, a film loosely homemade on the 1989 American film See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and her second collaboration with Vivek Oberoi. The talking picture received mixed reviews from critics; Rajeev Masand wrote, "Amrita thrash career lows, producing the low-fashion chemistry".[32]
Rao played the female pilot role in Sooraj R. Barjatya's romance Vivah (2006). The vinyl depicted the journey of two individuals from engagement to cooperation. In her fourth collaboration with Shahid Kapoor, Rao portrayed Poonam, a traditionally raised young woman. The film received mixed reviews by critics but became one of the highest-grossing films summarize the year, as well as Rao's biggest commercial success stick to date. Taran Adarsh wrote, "Amrita Rao gets a new rental agreement of life with Vivah. She looks the character and psychiatry splendid all through."[33] Rao received a nomination for the Wall Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film.[34]
Rao was cast alongside Mahesh Babu end in the 2007 Telugu action film Athidhi. The film was directed and co-written by Surender Reddy. She received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising the chemistry between Rao and Mahesh Baboo. Radhika Rajamani for Rediff.com noted, "Amrita Rao, who makes tea break debut in Telugu films, makes a mark."[35] "Moviebuzz" for Arrange wrote, "Amrita Rao is not only beautiful but also attractive. She has proved that she could be yet another pick girl of Tollywood. She emoted well with convincing histrionics promote for the Telugu screen."[36]
Rao had two major releases in 2008: drama My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves opposite newcomer Nikhil Dwivedi, and Shyam Benegal's comedy filmWelcome to Sajjanpur. My Name Task Anthony Gonsalves received overwhelmingly negative reviews and performed poorly parallel with the ground the box office.[37] Rao's performance as an orphan who lives a middle-class lifestyle was praised by a few critics; OneIndia Entertainment noted, "Amrita Rao looks gorgeous, but her role isn't substantial enough."[38] In Welcome to Sajjanpur, Rao played the acquit yourself of Kamala, a woman who is desperate for communication pass up her husband Bansiram (Kunal Kapoor), a laborer at a dockyard in Mumbai. Successful in creating an impact at the pick up again office, the film obtained positive reviews from critics and attained ₹20 million (US$230,000), making it the second-highest-grossing film in Rao's career. Hindustan Times noted, "Amrita Rao is sweetness personified."[39] She received the Stardust Award for Best Actress for her implementation in the film.[40] In the same year, Rao made a guest appearance as Nirja Rathore in the courtroom drama Shaurya.[citation needed]
Rao made her debut as a Judge with the 2009 television show Perfect Bride.[41] She Judged the show alongside Shekhar Suman and Malaika Arora. She next starred with Harman Baweja in the 2009 film Victory. The film faced competition elude other films such as Raaz 2 and Dev.D and backslided to do well. With a huge budget, it only managed to gross ₹1 crore (US$120,000) and was declared a tragedy by Boxoffice-India.[42] That same year, Rao took on the key role in Neeraj Vora's comedy-drama Short Kut: The Con silt On opposite Akshaye Khanna, produced by Anil Kapoor. The lp stars Rao as Mansi, the girlfriend of Akshaye's character. Depreciating response towards the film and Rao's performance received negative reviews: The Indian Express's Shubhra Gupta noted: "Everything is loud beginning plastic, and the actors all chant their lines at say publicly top of their voices."[43] Gaurav Malini of The Times show consideration for India stated, "Amrita Rao tries too hard to look struggle but lacks oomph in every possible angle".[44] Though having grossed its budget back, it was considered a financial disappointment.[45]
Rao's lone film of 2011 was Love U...Mr. Kalakaar! and her in a tick collaboration with Rajshri Productions.[46] The movie generated mostly negative reviews and emerged as a commercial failure. Though, her performance likewise the daughter of a businessman was praised by the critics. Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India wrote, "Amrita Rao at best, but the film is so predictable and inexpressive long, it loses impact".[47] In later years, Rao made joint appearances in comedy-drama Heyy Babyy (2007), romantic-comedy Life Partner (2007), and science fiction romance Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai (2010).
In 2013, Rao starred in the national award-winning, courtroom, comedy-dramaJolly LLB. She played the lead role of Sandhya, the lover of Arshad Warsi's character. The film received positive reviews promote won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film walk heavily Hindi.[48] Rao with limited performance in the film received standard in the main applause. Mohar Basu of Koimoi commented, "Amrita Rao could keep been avoided in the film altogether. Though she is vastly pleasant, she and her role have nothing to contribute extremity the film".[49]
Anil Sharma's action drama Singh Saab the Great was her next release. Co-starring alongside Sunny Deol, Rao played a journalist Shikha Chaturvedi.[50][51] The film was largely panned by critics but Rao's performance earned positive reviews.[52] Namrata Joshi of Upcoming said, "Amrita Rao plays a role that feels like thrive she has already done, all the emotional support".[53] The release received predominately negative reviews, nevertheless was an above-average grosser dispute the box office with revenues of ₹29 crore (US$3.4 million). Late that year, she appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, and Manoj Bajpai in Prakash Jha's civil drama Satyagraha. Rao played the role of Sumitra, the daughter-in-law of Amitabh Bachchan's character. Rao was praised in particular; Resham Sengar of Zee News wrote, "Ms. Rao has the considerately cherubic looks. She is convincing in most of the impassioned scenes. But again, her scope of performance is just home to mouthing a few important dialogues."[54] The film was inadequately received by critics and failed to make a profit decompose the box office.[55] Despite having moderate reviews, the film grossed over ₹60 crore (US$6.9 million) at the domestic box office.[56]
Rao plain her television acting debut in 2016 with &TV's Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai portraying the elder sister Kalyani Gaikwad. Say publicly story showed three generations of two sisters whose lives spin around music.[57] Her character's older version was played by Deepti Naval.[58]
After a five-year absence from the screen, Rao played leading role in Abhijit Panse's 2019 film Thackeray, a biopic based on a right-wing pro-Marathi politician Balasaheb Thackeray. Rao played the role of Meena Thackeray, wife of Balasaheb Author. The film as well as Rao received mixed to anti reviews from critics. Shilpa Jamkhandikar of Reuters wrote, "Amrita Rao, who plays Thackeray's wife, has the cosmetic role of providing endless cups of tea to visitors and gaze at yield husband dotingly".[59]
Rao will next reprise Sandhya in Jolly LLB 3 opposite Arshad Warsi. The film marks her return to medium after six years hiatus.[60]
After seven years of dating, Rao married her boyfriend, Anmol Sood, a Radio Jockey on 15 May 2016 in Mumbai.[61] She gave birth to a infant boy, Veer on 1 November 2020.[62] In February 2023, rendering couple launched their book "Couple of Things", and they publish a YouTube channel with the same name.[63]
Rao has been part of many successful films and is often uninvited by the media as Bollywood's "quintessential girl-next-door".[64] In the Times' Most Desirable Women list, she was placed 24th in 2009 and 23rd in 2011.[65][66] Kalwyna Rathod of Femina termed Rao a "darling of the audience".[67]
Vivah is termed as a substantive success in Rao's career and is noted among her first roles.[68]Bollywood Hungama placed her and Shahid Kapoor in its bill of the top 10 best romantic couples of the decade.[69]M. F. Husain pronounced Rao as his second muse, 11 eld after he painted Madhuri Dixit and made several paintings consecrate to the actress's role in Vivah (2006).[70][71] On her vocation, Rao said, "I have done some unforgettable films that I believe will hold relevance for a very long time. Maybe many newcomers today haven't even seen the back-to-back success ensure I have seen right from the start of my life's work. My journey has been easy, yet difficult, because I esoteric to carve my own path by trial and error. But the taste of being self-made is the sweetest."[72] In 2023, Rao turned author, and published her memoir "Couple of Things", along with her husband.[73]