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Aarti Gupta Surendranath

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Aarti Gupta Surendranath
Born (1961-05-25) 25 May 1961 (age 63)
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Model, actress, producer, stylist, creative consultant
Years active1980s–present
Known forModelling, Films, Advertising, Wildlife Advocacy
SpouseKailash Surendranath
Children2

Aarti Gupta Surendranath is an Indian model, actress, producer, stylist and creative consultant known for her work in the entertainment and advertising industries.[1][2]

Early life and education

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Born in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Aarti grew up in a family with a military background.[3] Her father, Major Gyan Gupta, was an officer in the 3rd Guards Battalion and was associated with the President’s office in the 1960s. During a posting in Mumbai, she attended St. Joseph’s Convent of Jesus & Mary, Colaba.

Career

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Modelling

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Aarti began her modelling career at the age of 15 with her debut in a Sunsilk shampoo advertisement. In the 1980s, Aarti Gupta (now Surendranath) modelled for the Garden Sarees campaign where she styled her own look, giving it an ethnic touch. She was also the face of the Bombay Dyeing Sarees campaign, which ran simultaneously, garnering widespread attention.[3]

During her work on the Campa Cola ad, she introduced Salman Khan to her then-fiancé, Kailash Surendranath, which led to Salman’s first appearance as a model in advertising.[4]

Films

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Aarti transitioned to acting with her debut in Purana Mandir (1984), a horror film produced by the Ramsay Brothers.[5] The film became a commercial success and is considered one of the pioneering works of Indian horror cinema. She continued to work in horror films, starring in Tahkhana (1986) and Saamri (1987) in 3D.

She later appeared in Janbaaz (1986), directed by Feroz Khan, alongside Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Dimple Kapadia. Her art film roles include Aashiana (1986), directed by Mahesh Bhatt, where she portrayed a tribal girl alongside Mark Zuber and Deepti Naval, and Apna Jahan (1985), featuring Naseeruddin Shah.[6]

She also worked in regional cinema, starring opposite Mohanlal in the Malayalam film Jeevante Jeevan, directed by J. Williams.

Advertising and production

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In addition to acting, Aarti contributed significantly to Indian advertising. She was the associate producer for Mile Sur Mera Tumhara (1988),[7] a film promoting national integration, and produced its sequel Phir Mile Sur (2010). She also worked as a creative producer for the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign (2022).[8]

Her contributions to feature films include roles as a producer, writer, stylist, and creative consultant for projects such as Love You Hamesha (2001) and the web series Chakravyuh: An Inspector Virkar Crime Thriller (2021).[9] She was also a creative consultant for the international film A Mighty Heart (2007), starring Angelina Jolie.[10]

Wildlife advocacy and conservation efforts

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Aarti Surendranath is actively involved in wildlife conservation, particularly through her work with the Wildlife Trust of India. She has advocated for the protection of the Tibetan antelope, known as the chiru, which is critically endangered. The animal’s undercoat is used to create shahtoosh shawls, a practice that has led to the decline of the species.[11] Surendranath has worked to raise awareness about the ethical concerns surrounding shahtoosh production, aiming to educate the public on the importance of preserving the chiru and other endangered wildlife.[12][13]

Personal life

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Aarti Surendranath is married to ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath[14] and has been involved in creative work as well as animal welfare, environmental advocacy, and event organisation.[15] Together they have two children, a son, Angadveer Surendranath, a director, who co-directed the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign and worked on the Bollywood film Race 3 and a daughter, Kshiraja Surendranath, who is a classical Odissi dancer. Aarti is also known for her active social engagement.[16]

References

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  1. ^ pavan (21 December 2019). "Powerhouse! – Aarti Gupta Surendranath". You and I. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  2. ^ Jha, Subhash K. (17 March 2021). "Kailash and Aarti Surendranath, superstars of the ad world talk about their transition into digital world". National Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Aarti Gupta". Cinemaazi. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  4. ^ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "When Campa Cola gave Salman Khan his first break - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Purana Mandir: How a no-star, A-rated horror film rocked the Hindi film industry in 1984". Cinemaazi. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  6. ^ Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Ashiana Cast. "Cinestaan".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "AARTI SURENDRANATH GUPTA | ZaubaCorp". www.zaubacorp.com. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  8. ^ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "'Har Ghar Tiranga' and 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara': There's really no need to compare, says Kailash Surendranath - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  9. ^ "#HowIMadeIt! Shiv Pandit: I lost a film because of 'FIR' and I quit that TV show". The Times of India. 31 March 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Aarti Surendranath's come back with a flash role in Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om". India Today. 26 February 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  11. ^ "The resurgence of the Shahtoosh – 350+ high-value shawls seized from Northern India". Wildlife Trust of India. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Bollywood Celebrities endorse Shahtoosh campaign at India Fashion Week". Wildlife Trust of India. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Arti Surendranath: Up, close and personal". The Times of India. 27 April 2002. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Extra special day for Arti, Kailash Surendranath". The Times of India. 11 November 2011. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Over 1,000 Mumbaikars gathered to protest outside the building where Lucky was beaten". The Times of India. 3 August 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  16. ^ "Amit Sadh, Iulia Vantur felicitate acid attack survivor Lakshmi Agarwal". The Times of India. 11 May 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 February 2025.