{{short description|American actress}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox person | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|2|9|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Valparaiso, Indiana, U.S. | occupation = Actor, storyteller | years_active = 2010–present | website = {{URL|ratigupta.com}} }}
'''Rati Gupta''' (born February 9, 1984)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rati Gupta |url=https://www.tvmaze.com/people/216085/rati-gupta |website=tvmaze.com |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref> is an American actor and storyteller known for her recurring role as Anu, the fiancée of Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali in the CBS sitcom ''The Big Bang Theory'', and for telling humorous stories about her experiences.
==Early life== Gupta was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, to parents who had moved to the United States from India. She grew up in Michigan City, Indiana. Her father, a physician, came from a small town north of New Delhi. Her mother came from Varanasi. While her parents were both born in North India, Gupta does not speak Hindi. She has a brother who also is a physician. Gupta was salutatorian of her class at Marquette Catholic High School, after which she graduated from Northwestern University as a psychology and dance double major, while fulfilling premed requirements at the same time. While at Northwestern, she was director of its drum, dance, and rhythm ensemble.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Lance|date=January 16, 2019|title=Interview: The Big Bang Theory's Rati Gupta on Booking the Show, Moving to L.A., and One “Disastrous” Audition |url=https://www.dailyactor.com/interview/rati-gupta-big-bang-theory/ |website=dailyactor.com |publisher=Daily Actor |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Mayim interviews newest 'Big Bang Theory' actress, Rati Gupta| last1=Bialik|first1= Mayim|date=January 4, 2019| url=https://groknation.com/culture/mayim-interviews-newest-big-bang-theory-actress-rati-gupta/| publisher=Grok Nation| accessdate=January 6, 2019}}</ref><ref name="biog">{{cite web |title=Rati Gupta |url=https://www.chicagogourmet.org/page/RatiGupta |website=chicagogourmet.org |publisher=Illinois Restaurant Association |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Davich |first1=Jerry|date=March 6, 2019 |title='Big Bang Theory' star evolved from 'nerd' upbringing in Michigan City, Indiana |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/03/05/big-bang-theory-star-evolved-from-nerd-upbringing-in-michigan-city-indiana/ |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=13 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620091812/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2019/03/05/big-bang-theory-star-evolved-from-nerd-upbringing-in-michigan-city-indiana/ |archive-date=June 20, 2025}}</ref>
==Career== Rather than follow her father and brother into medicine, Gupta moved to Los Angeles and began dancing 16 hours a day, appearing in videos including for Lupe Fiasco and Flo Rida.<ref name="biog"/> Although her initial career interest was dancing, she kept hitting "wall after wall", leaving her feeling dejected. She eventually decided to try out acting and received her first acting lessons from an individual she describes as the "go-to sitcom comedy teacher".<ref name="biog2"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Angelo |first1=Megan|date=September 19, 2014 |title=What It's Like to Be an Indian American Actress Trying to Make It in TV |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/indian-actresses-on-tv |website=glamour.com |publisher=Glamour / Condé Nast |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wadehra |first1=Jashima|date=April 14, 2019 |title=Actress Rati Gupta Shares her Passion for Dance and Advice for Anyone Breaking Into Hollywood |url=https://browngirlmagazine.com/rati-gupta-interview/ |website=browngirlmagazine.com |publisher=Brown Girl Magazine, Inc. |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref>
She appeared in a recurring role in season 2 of the Hulu series ''Future Man''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino–Ray|date=July 18, 2018 |title='Teachers' Adds Adam Korson To Roster; Sara Amini & Rati Gupta Join 'Future Man' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/adam-korson-tv-land-teachers-sara-amini-rati-gupta-future-man-hulu-1202428161/ |website=deadline.com |publisher=Deadline Hollywood / Penske Media Corporation |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rati Gupta to star in Hulu's 'Future Man' |url=https://newsindiatimes.com/rati-gupta-to-star-in-hulus-future-man/ |website=newsindiatimes.com |publisher=Parikh Worldwide Media, LLC|date=August 6, 2018 |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref> and in a guest role on the Netflix series ''Unbelievable''.<ref name="biog2">{{cite news|last1=Fitzgerald|first1=Toni|title=Rati Gupta On Joining 'Big Bang Theory' And Discovering She Was Funny|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2019/01/03/rati-gupta-on-joining-big-bang-theory-and-discovering-she-was-funny/|accessdate=February 25, 2019|work=Forbes|date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> Her acting credits also include MTV film ''Worst. Prom. Ever.'' and the FX comedy ''Better Things''.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thetealmango.com/entertainment/rati-gupta-joins-future-man-season-2/ | title=Rati Gupta Joins 'Future Man' Season 2| date=2018| newspaper=The Teal Mango| accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref> She is known for her recurring role as Anu, the fiancée of Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali in the CBS sitcom ''The Big Bang Theory''.<ref>{{cite web| title=The Big Bang Theory season 12 cast: Who is in the cast?| url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1022024/The-big-bang-theory-season-12-cast-sheldon-penny-jim-parsons-kaley-cuoco-rati-gupta-final|newspaper=Daily Express | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816215050/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1022024/The-big-bang-theory-season-12-cast-sheldon-penny-jim-parsons-kaley-cuoco-rati-gupta-final| archivedate=August 16, 2014| url-status=dead| accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
While she wasn't presented roles "that represent her",<ref name="biog" /> she traveled around the country telling humorous stories about her experiences. She was champion three times at ''The Moth'' StorySLAM. Her one-woman storytelling presentation, ''Not Another Teen Solo Show'', was nominated for Best Solo/Duo at the LA Comedy Festival, and was named one of the Top 3 Performances of the New York International Fringe Festival by ''Backstage''. Some of the other venues where she has told her stories include the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the Chicago Fringe Festival, The Improv in Hollywood, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and The Comedy Store.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gupta |first1=Rati |title=Rati Gupta |url=https://www.ratigupta.com/about |website=ratigupta.com |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Not Another Teen Solo Show |url=https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1210 |website=hollywoodfringe.org |publisher=Hollywood Fringe Festival |access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Television and internet=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2011 || ''Worst.Prom.Ever'' || Nikki || TV movie |- | 2014–2018 || ''Does This Baby Make Me Look Fat?'' ||Story Editor ||Web series; 55 episodes |- | 2016 || ''Better Things'' || Bank Teller || 1 episode |- | 2018–2019 || ''The Big Bang Theory'' || Anu || 9 episodes |- | 2019–2020 || ''Future Man'' || Rake || 7 episodes |- | 2019 || ''Unbelievable'' || Sally Green || 1 episode |- | 2020 || ''Heart Baby Eggplant'' || Rati || Web series; 7 episodes; also writer and executive producer |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2011 || ''Where the Road Meets the Sun'' || Yamini || |- | 2011 || ''Second Best'' || Shwerta || Short film |- | 2013 || ''Mortified Nation'' || Self || Documentary / Comedy |}
===Choreography=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2010 || ''Maro Charitra'' ||Assistant Choreographer || |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=3552499|name=Rati Gupta}} * {{TV Guide person|3030416057}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|celebrity/rati_gupta}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gupta, Rati}} Category:1984 births Category:People from Valparaiso, Indiana Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Indiana Category:American television actresses Category:American women comedians Category:American women storytellers Category:American storytellers Category:Living people Category:People from Michigan City, Indiana Category:21st-century American comedians Category:Northwestern University alumni Category:Comedians from Indiana