The sister of veteran Gujarati actor and stage artist, Sarita Joshi, Gujarati film and theatre actor Padmarani started off on the stage and has been a part of various Gujarati plays. A career spanning over fifty years, she has performed in over 6000 Gujarati, and some of her notable works are Baa Retire Thai Chhe, Baa A Maari Boundary, Kevda Na Dankh, Saptapadi, Chandarwo, 5 Star Aunty, and Vachan among others.

After a successful stint at a theatre, Padmarani made her silver screen with the 1961 Gujarati film Narsaiyyani Hundi. She, then, went on to be a part of films like Kalapi (1966), Janamtip (1969), Patli Parmar (1978), Gangasati (1979) and Sagaai (1980). Meanwhile, she has also acted in numerous popular Hindi movies, including Parivar (1968), Veer Ghatotkach (1970), Jai Santoshi Maa (1975), Dil (1990), Zaalim (1994), Paheli (2005) and Guru (2007).

In the later years, she, predominantly, essayed maternal roles in several plays. Her last appearance was in the play Amari To Arjee Baki Tamari Marjee, before the actor passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai on 25 January 2016.