Rawat had a love for field hockey since childhood, and at the age of 17, began playing as a left striker for Uttarakhand state in India.

She was picked for the role of a hockey player in the movie Chak De! India by the producers after an audition in Jabalpur. The film turned out to be a blockbuster worldwide, and Rawat shot to fame. In 2008, she starred in her second venture, Fashion. The film was a success at the box office, and received critical acclaim. She had a main role in the 2009 action film Luck opposite superstars Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Shruti Hassan, Mithun Chakraborty, and Ravi Kissen. Luck also received critical acclaim, but did average business at the box office.

Her latest films include Yeh Dooriyan and the 2012 hit Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya.

Rawat is a former student of the Guru Nanak Academy. The daughter of T. S. Rawat, a resident of Raipur, Uttarakhand, Rawat regularly represents the Uttarakhand hockey team in the national championships. Currently, she is studying at St Andrew FYBMM pursuing her bachelor's degree in mass media. She has campaigned for Minute Maid pulpy orange, along with co-stars Vidya Malvade and Sagarika Ghatge.

She hails from Dehradun. She is also hosting Star Gold's Sabse Favourite Kaun. She was also a contestant in a Comedy Circus 2 of Optimystix. She acted in Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion as Shomu and recently as "Shortkut" in the 2009 action thriller movie Luck. She subsequently participated in Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao, the Indian remake of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!