Her first Kannada release was
Dudde Doddappa followed by
Love in Bangalore. Her sensitive portrayal of a singer in
Sandhya Raga won her critical acclaim and she went on to form a successful romantic pair with
Dr. Rajkumar. The pair acted together in 28 films and went on to give hit after hit until 1973, very significant among them are
Mayor Muthanna,
Sri Krishnadevaraya and
Bangaarada Manushya.
Doorada Betta was the last film of Bharathi with
Dr. Rajkumar. In 1966, Bharathi played supporting roles in two
M. G. Ramachandran movies
Nadodi and
Chandhrodhayam which elevated her profile in the Tamil arena. She then graduated to lead heroine roles with
Deiva Cheyal,
Avalukendru Or Manam and
Thanga Surangam, opposite stars like
Muthuraman,
Gemini Ganeshan, and
Shivaji Ganeshan. Bharathi acted in Telugu movies like
Jai Jawan (1970),
Govula Gopanna (1968) and
Sipayi Chinnayya with
Akkineni Nageswara Rao and various
Malayalam films with many leading actors, mainly in character roles. In 1967, Bharathi was introduced to Hindi cinema by director
A. Bhimsingh with
Meherban. She went on to act in several
Hindi films like
Saadhu Aur Shaitaan with
Mehmood,
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani opposite
Rakesh Roshan,
Manoj Kumar's
Purab Aur Paschim and
Hum Tum Aur Woh with
Vinod Khanna and later
Mastana and
Kunwaara Baap (1974). In the 1970s she formed a popular pair with Vishnuvardhan (who then became her husband) and they starred together in blockbusters like
Bhagya Jyothi,
Makkala Bhagya,
Devara Gudi,
Nagara Hole and
Bangarada Jinke (1980). After a brief hiatus, she returned to the Kannada screen in 1984 with
Puttanna Kanagal's much acclaimed
Runamukthalu and started her second innings as a lead heroine in slightly more mature roles, going on to star in several movies each with lead actors of the time -
Anant Nag (
Maneye Manthralaya,
Shanthi Nivasa),
Tiger Prabhakar (Bandha Mukta,
Thaliya Aane),
Ambareesh (Matsara) and
Rajesh (
Tavaru Mane). She also starred in several Hindi films in her second innings -
Uttar Dakshin (1987),
Izzatdaar (1990 with
Dilip Kumar),
Khel and
Aao Pyaar Karen. In the late 90s she acted in the Kannada Doordarshan serial
Janani. In 2012, she appeared as a strict, no-nonsense sessions court judge in
T.N. Seetharam's Kannada daily serial
Mukta-Mukta. Apart from acting, Bharathi has sung a few songs, a duet with T.M. Soundarrajan, a Tamil song "Thanga Nilave Nee Illamal" picturised on her and Gemini Ganesan and a Kannada song "Ee Notake Mai Matake" with her husband Vishnuvardhan for
Nagara Hole. She has worked as an associate director with
K. S. L. Swamy for the movies
Karune Illada Kanoonu,
Huli Hejje and the classic
Malaya Marutha. ==Filmography==