She is most remembered for her role as Gulabo Maasi in her first movie Long Da Lishkara (1983).

[3][4] Rishi was born in 1943 in a Punjabi Brahmin family in the village Khiva Kalan of Mansa district.

[5] Her father was Sarpanch Baldev Krishan Rishi and mother name was Bachni Devi.

[6] During her studies at Govt College for Physical education she came into contact with Harpal & Nina Tiwana and joined their theatre group Punjab Kala Manch, she was one of there first students and her compatriot during her time then was Late Shri Om Puri.

She acted in more than 60 films, including Long Da Lishkara (1983) Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da (1985), Diva Bale Sari Raat, Suneha, Love Punjab (2015), Death on Wheels, Woman from the East, Nikka Zaildar (2016), Angrej (2015), Lahoriye (2017), and Nikka Zaildar 2 (2017) and a friendly appearance in Bollywood Superhit movie Dangal (2016).