 Rätsep's first appearance on Estonian television was a small role in the Virve Aruoja and Jaan Tooming-directed Eesti Telefilm short feature film "Lõppematu päev".Later that year, he was cast in the role of Don Antonio in the Arvo Kruusement-directed romantic feature film musical-comedy "Don Juan Tallinnas" for Tallinnfilm.In 1972, shortly after graduating from the Tallinn Conservatory, Rätsep began an engagement as a stage actor at the Estonian Drama Theatre in Tallinn.