(2001) opposite Venkatesh was a massive success, instantly establishing her as a leading actress
Between 2001 and 2004, Agarwal was arguably the top actress in the industry, delivering back-to-back hits like:
Unlike many actresses relegated to song-and-dance roles, Aarthi often played the emotional anchor of her films. In Nee Sneham (2002) and Sontham (2002), her scenes were not filler; they were the narrative glue. Her ability to oscillate between high-energy comedy (often opposite actors like N. T. Rama Rao Jr.) and tear-jerking melodrama made her content versatile.