Antara Mali made her acting debut in the 1999 film Prema Katha which was directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Varma became Mali’s frequent collaborator. Although Mali was critically acclaimed for her performances in each of her films, she discontinued her acting career after production of her last film (Mr Ya Miss [2005] which she had also written and directed) was received poorly and critically panned. Mali paid her tribute to Madhuri Dixit by playing an aspiring actress inspired by Madhuri in the movie Main Madhuri Diixit Banna Chahti Hoon.