In this paper, we first present a complex multirational exp-function ansatz for constructing explicit solitary wave solutions, N-wave solutions, and rouge wave solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) with complex coefficients. To illustrate the effectiveness of the complex multirational exp-function ansatz, we then consider a generalized nonlinear Schrödinger (gNLS) equation with distributed coefficients. As a result, some explicit rational exp-function solutions are obtained, including solitary wave solutions, N-wave solutions, and rouge wave solutions. Finally, we simulate some spatial structures and dynamical evolutions of the modules of the obtained solutions for more insights into these complex rational waves. It is shown that the complex multirational exp-function ansatz can be used for explicit solitary wave solutions, N-wave solutions, and rouge wave solutions of some other nonlinear PDEs with complex coefficients.