Roopa Ganguly (; born 25 November 1966) is an Indian actress, politician, and playback singer. She was one of the highest-paid television actresses in India during 1980s. She is best known for her portrayal of Draupadi in B R Chopra's hit television series Mahabharat. Often promoted as the Tollywood's answer to Bollywood's Shabana Azmi, she is known for her versatility and accent adaptation. She has worked with directors such as Mrinal Sen, Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose and Rituparno Ghosh. She is a trained Rabindra Sangeet vocalist and a classical dancer. She received several awards including a National Award and two BFJA Awards. In October 2016, she was nominated as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha by the President of India. She served as the President of BJP Mahila Morcha in West Bengal. She served as the General Secretary and the Vice-president for the West Bengal Motion Picture Artistes' Forum, a body representing cine artistes. Her films have commulatively grossed more than US$100 million worldwide.
Her first acting assignment was Bijoy Chatterjee's Hindi telefilm Nirupama (1986) based on Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali short story Denapaona and broadcast on DD National. Her breakthrough role came with the Bengali TV series Muktabandha (1986) directed by Ramaprasad Banik. She achieved national recognition for her role in P. Kumar Vasudev's Hindi TV series Ganadevta (1987–88) and shot to wider fame and popularity after she played Draupadi in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat (1988–90). She reprised the role of Draupadi in Chopra's Mahabharat Katha. She acted in popular Hindi TV series such as Kanoon (1993), Chandrakanta (1994), Karam Apnaa Apnaa (2007), Kasturi (2009), Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo (2009). Popular Bengali TV series, she acted in, include Janmabhoomi (1997), Draupadi (1999), Ingeet (2001), Tithir Atithi to name a few.
She made her big screen debut opposite Chiranjeet in Prabhat Roy's Bengali film Prateek (1988). She achieved critical acclaims for her performance in National Award winning Indo-Bangladesh joint production film as Padma Nadir Majhi (1992) by Goutam Ghose, and National Award winning Bengali films such Janani (1993) by Sanat Dasgupta and Yugant (1995) by Aparna Sen. She received BFJA Award for Best Supporting Actress twice for her roles in Amal Ray Ghatak's Ujan (1995) and Rituparno Ghosh's Antarmahal (2005). In the same year, she acted in the role of a conceited actress in Anjan Dutt's Tarpor Bhalobasa, which once again earned her critical acclaim. She was conferred with Osian's Cinefan Festival Special Jury Mention for her role in Antarmahal (2005). She was awarded in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her role in Sekhar Das's National Award winning Bengali film Krantikaal (2005) at the 9th Dhaka International Film Festival. In January 2006, she was named by The Indian Express in the list of the five most powerful actresses of 2005. She was further acclaimed for her roles in films such as Kaaler Rakhal (2009), Chowrasta - The Crossroads of Love (2009), Chaurahen (2012), Na Hannyate (2012), Dutta Vs Dutta (2012) and Punascha (2014). In 2011, she received the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for rendering her voice in Aditi Roy's Bengali film Abosheshey (2012).
Early life Ganguly was born to Samarendra Lal Ganguly and Juthika Ganguly on 25 November 1966. She grew up in a joint family. She was a student of Beltala Girls' High School from which she finished her secondary examination. She completed her Higher Secondary Education from Jodhpur Park Girls' High School. Later, she obtained a bachelor's degree from the Jogamaya Devi College, an affiliated undergraduate women's college of University of Calcutta, in Kolkata. Ganguly had to face severe financial crisis during her college days.
Acting career
Ganguly's acting debut marked a benchmark though she never aspired to be an actress. After she completed her graduation, she was suggested by some of her relatives to pursue acting. She attended a wedding ceremony where she was approached by Bijoy Chatterjee who was looking for a fresh face with unplucked eyebrows to play the titular role in his Hindi telefilm Nirupama (1986) based on Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali short story Denapaona. Ganguly was initially hesitant to accept his proposal but later gave her nod on her aunts' insistence. Chatterjee's thematic focus was on the societal subjugation of women. The theme of this story revolves around the dowry system, its devastating consequences, and the exploitation of women in a patriarchal society. The narrative accentuates the struggles of Ramsundar Mitra, a father who agrees to pay a hefty dowry for his daughter Nirupama's marriage to a wealthy family. Despite his efforts to fulfill his obligations, he faces humiliation, financial ruin, and emotional distress. Ganguly portrays Nirupama who is subjected to mistreatment and neglect by her in-laws, who view her as a source of financial gain, alongside Soumitra Chatterjee enacting the role of Ramsundar Mitra. The telefilm also explores the theme of sacrifice and selflessness, particularly in the characters of Ramsundar and Nirupama. Ramsundar's love for his daughter instigates him to sell his house or accumulate debt. Nirupama, on the other hand, prioritises her father's well-being over her own interests, refusing to accept the dowry money that would further exploit her family. The narrative highlights the tragic consequences of the dowry system, including the loss of dignity, autonomy, and even life. Nirupama's death serves as a poignant escape from the indignity she endures, underscoring the tragic consequences of a society that perpetuates such injustice.
Impressed with her potential, Soumitra Chatterjee cast her as Mrinal alongside his daughter Poulami Basu playing the role of Bindu in his directorial venture Stree Ki Patra (1986; ), based on Streer Patra a Bengali short story written by Tagore. The telefilm manifests the struggle for freedom and self-identity of a woman in a patriarchal society. Ganguly plays the protagonist who has to yield to the atrocious hostility from her in-laws when she intends to foster Bindu, a helpless girl portrayed by Chatterjee's daughter Poulami. The telefilm highlights the societal norms and expectations that restrict women's lives. The protagonist's own desires, aspirations, and individuality are suppressed, and she is forced to conform to the roles assigned to her. The story also explores the theme of female solidarity, as the protagonist fights for Bindu's rights and tries to protect her from abuse. It critiques the patriarchal society's treatment of women, particularly in the context of marriage and family. It portrays the ways in which women are objectified, commodified, and marginalised, and how they are forced to conform to societal norms that prioritise men's interests. The protagonist's decision to leave her husband's house and start a new life is a testament to her growing awareness of her own identity and her desire for autonomy. Ganguly was critically appreciated for her performance. She said that she was convincing as Mrinal as she could relate to the commodification and discrimination the character undergoes.
Her next foray was Manjulika (1986) directed by Bijoy Chatterjee. She plays the titular role of a teenage widow who is devastated to learn that her father intends to remarry after her mother's death. Like her previous telefilms, this also portrays the ways in which women are commodified, and marginalised, and how they are forced to conform to societal norms that prioritise men's interests. Based on Tagore's Bengali poem Nishkriti (), the plot revolves around Manjulika and her ailing mother whose plea to get Manjulika remarried to Pulin is disapproved by her father. She ultimately elopes with Pulin when her father himself remarries eleven months after her mother's death.
Ganguly was enjoined by Ramaprasad Banik to appear for a look test for the female lead in his Bengali TV series Muktabandha (1986). After she appeared for the look test, Samaresh Majumdar, the screenplay writer of the TV series considered her to be imperfect for the role. The role being that of a call girl, Majumdar wanted an attractive actress to portray it. He suggested Banik to find another actress other than Ganguly whom he considered to be dowdy. Majumdar was requested to meet Ganguly once again. This time Ganguly appeared charming and attractive, and was finalised to portray the female lead. Her performance in the series was appreciated.
Ganguly successfully auditioned for the role of Durga in P. Kumar Vasudev's Hindi TV series Ganadevta (1987–88). It was based on Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay's much acclaimed 1942 Bengali novel Ganadevata. Set against the backdrop of British Raj in the twentieth century, the series documents Dalit uprising against the exploitation of the rich upper caste in a rural India. She played Durga, a rural, subaltern prostitute who is of service to a group of Indian nationalists who intend to eradicate the subaltern plight. Durga embodies the spirit of a rebellious subaltern woman who dares to defy oppressive social norms. She challenges the stagnant, superstitious, and caste-ridden village life through her personal choices, which are seen as scandalous by the conservative community. Unlike the traditional, subservient women of her time, Durga refuses to accept her fate as a mere appendage to a patriarchal society. She is driven by her own desires and a fierce sense of self, which earns her the community's condemnation but makes her a symbol of change. Her relationship with Aniruddha, a blacksmith from a lower caste, is a direct challenge to the rigid social stratification of the village. By breaking the taboo of inter-caste relationships, Durga symbolizes the dismantling of the old caste-based structures that had long governed rural life. The role extensively propelled her career. A number of directors including Mrinal Sen was impressed with her performance.
She accepted a role opposite Chiranjeet Chakraborty in Prabhat Roy's Bengali film Prateek (1988). Roy's next venture was Agnitrishna (1989) that once again saw Chiranjeet Chakraborty essaying the male protagonist Abhijit suffering from pyrophobia. Roy cast Ganguly as the female lead opposite Chakraborty. She had to enact the role of the doctor who treats the protagonist. The film failed to win critical favour while Ganguly's performance was critically acclaimed. She also accepted another role opposite Chakraborty in Biresh Chatterjee's Bengali film Tufan (1989). The film was a major financial success. She featured in Mrinal Sen's much acclaimed Hindi Film Ek Din Achanak (1989) and Basu Chatterjee's Hindi film Kamla Ki Maut (1989).
Reportedly B.R. Chopra was quite impressed with Ganguly's performance in the TV series Gandevta. After Juhi Chawla declined the role of Draupadi for Mahabharat, Chopra decided to get her appear for a screen test for the role. In 1988, she was summoned by director Biresh Chatterjee to NT1 Studio where the director informed her that Chopra wanted her to appear for the look test. Ramya Krishnan was also another strong candidate to portray the role. Ganguly was finally chosen since her Hindi diction was better. In 1989, the 34th episode of the series introduced her. She was hailed for her performance in the Game of Dice sequence. The sequence was aired in the 46th, 47th and 48th episodes of the series. The sequence narrates Draupadi being dragged to the court by Dushasana. She then asks Bhishma, a veteran of the Kuru clan whether Yudhishthira has the right to put her in stake. The sequence demanded her to weep while enacting the part. She was so engrossed that she wept on even after her shot was over. She later claimed that her performance in the TV series was quite mediocre.