Aarti Gupta Surendranath

Aarti Gupta Surendranath is an Indian model, actress, producer, and creative consultant known for her work in advertising, public service cinema, and cultural advocacy. She gained national recognition in the 1980s as one of India’s most prominent models, appearing in several high-profile television commercials and magazine covers. She later transitioned to acting and became a notable figure in the entertainment and advertising industries, often collaborating with her husband, ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath.^[1]

Aarti Gupta Surendranath
Born	Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation(s)	Model, actress, producer, stylist, creative consultant
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Modelling, Films, Advertising, Wildlife Advocacy
Spouse	Kailash Surendranath
Children	2

She was also known for her work in Hindi cinema, particularly for her roles in the horror films of the Ramsay Brothers. Her performances contributed to popularizing the horror genre in the 1980s, bringing a distinctive glamour and screen presence that became emblematic of that era.^[2]

In addition to acting and producing, Aarti has supported various wildlife conservation and animal rights initiatives. She was associated with the Say No to Shahtoosh campaign, which aimed to raise awareness about the endangered Tibetan antelope, and later with the Emeralds for Elephants charity auction in 2011, which helped fund elephant corridors across India.

Early life and Background

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

Modelling

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

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

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 Work

Say No to Shahtoosh Campaign (2000–2005)

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]

Aarti Gupta Surendranath was honoured with the title of Campaign Advisor for the Say No to Shahtoosh initiative—a collaboration between the Wildlife Trust of India and the World Land Trust (UK). The campaign aimed to end the trade and use of shahtoosh shawls made from the endangered Tibetan antelope, or chiru. Surendranath played a pivotal role in mobilizing awareness within India’s fashion and film circles, leveraging her influence to engage top designers and public figures. The campaign gained remarkable momentum at events like India Fashion Week, where leading voices from Bollywood and fashion—including Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor, Milind Soman, Rahul Dev, Pooja Batra, and others—endorsed the cause by signing a symbolic scroll. Their support, alongside Aarti’s strategic outreach, helped bring ethical fashion and wildlife conservation to the national spotlight.^[14]

Emeralds for Elephants Charity Auction (2011)

In October 2011, Aarti Gupta Surendranath played a significant role in the Emeralds for Elephants charity auction held at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. Organized by Gemfields in association with the Wildlife Trust of India and the World Land Trust, the initiative aimed to raise funds to establish a network of elephant corridors across India to reduce human-elephant conflict.^[15] As the event designer and curator, Surendranath was instrumental in bringing together a high-profile guest list and ensuring the event's creative execution. The collection featured 11 exclusive emerald jewelry pieces, including a 630-carat emerald Ganesh sculpture by artist Arzan Khambatta. Participating jewellers included leading houses from across India, such as Abaran Jewellers (Bangalore), Anmol Jewellers (Mumbai), and Gem Palace (Jaipur), the latter of which Surendranath was associated with. The collection launched in July and culminated in a grand auction on 14 October 2011. The initiative was supported by sponsors such as Jaguar Land Rover, The Taj Hotels, Sotheby’s, and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA India).^[16]

The Indian chapter of the project was launched by actress Madhuri Dixit, who was present at the event alongside other notable figures including World Land Trust patron and former cricketer David Gower, His Highness Arvind Singh Mewar (Maharaja of Udaipur), Princess Diya Kumari, the Princess of Panna, and numerous celebrities and socialites such as Tisca Chopra, Sophie Choudry, Shobha De, Kaykasshan Patel, Pria Kataria Puri, Shaina NC, Natasha and Adar Poonawala, Rhea Pillai, Madhoo Shah, Malvika Sangghvi, and Laila Lamba. The auction raised an estimated USD $750,000 for elephant conservation efforts.^[17]

Notable Events and Campaigns

Catalunya Lifestyle & Fashion Event (2013)

In 2013, Aarti Gupta Surendranath served as the event coordinator for a Catalonia-themed cultural and fashion showcase held in Mumbai. The event coincided with the official visit of Artur Mas, President of the Government of Catalonia, and aimed to promote cultural and creative collaboration between Spain and India.

Held on November 27, 2013, at the Grand Central Hotel in Mumbai, the evening brought together Indian celebrities, international guests, and government officials. Actress Aditi Rao Hydari served as the celebrity showstopper, while Indian models such as Tamara Moss, Kanishtha Dhankhar, Erika Packard, and Iris Maity walked the runway. Spanish fashion designers including Custo, Brain & Beast, Mango, and Justicia Ruano were featured in the showcase, accompanied by Spanish DJ Gerard Estadella.

Spanish actress Ariadna Cabrol hosted the event, which also included a segment spotlighting lesser-known Spanish fashion labels alongside established brands. The showcase aimed to enhance cross-cultural exchange and introduce Spanish fashion to the Indian market.

The evening was attended by public figures including Rasmi Nigam, Sangita Singh, Divya Palat and Aditya Hitkari, Schauna Chauhan and Bikram Saluja, Rouble Nagi, Varuna D. Jani, Chhaya Momaya, Maheka Mirpuri and Arzan Khambatta, Anandita De, Deepti Bhatnagar, Rashmi Uday Singh, Randeep Arya, and Sabina and Anil Chopra. The event was hosted by the Government of Catalonia as part of its cultural diplomacy efforts in India.^[18]

Honours and Recognition

In 2019, Aarti Gupta Surendranath and her husband Kailash Surendranath were featured at the IE Business School and Karan Gupta Education Foundation’s “I Am Woman” event, which honoured women from diverse fields. The profile listed them among the notable industry figures recognized for their contributions to advertising, culture, and social impact.^[19]

Aarti Gupta Surendranath was featured in Femina magazine’s special edition titled “We Live in Hope” in January 2025, which profiled Indian women known for their resilience and social impact. In the feature, she reflected on her journey and shared her thoughts on generational resilience among those born between the 1950s and 1970s, artificial intelligence, gender acceptance, and environmental advocacy.^[20]

Personal life

Aarti Surendranath is married to ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath^[21] and has been involved in creative work as well as animal welfare, environmental advocacy, and event organisation.^[22] 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.^[23] Aarti is also known for her active social engagement.^[24]