Rupali Ganguly (born 5 April 1977) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television. One of the highest-paid television actresses in India, Ganguly is known for portraying Manisha “Monisha” Singh Sarabhai in the sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004–2006) and Anupamaa Joshi in the drama Anupamaa (2020–present). She is a recipient of two Indian Telly Awards and one Indian Television Academy Award.
Born to film director Anil Ganguly, Ganguly started her acting career as a child, making her debut at age seven in her father’s film Saaheb (1985). Following appearances in less favorably received films, Ganguly had her career breakthrough with her portrayal of Dr. Simran Chopra in the medical drama series Sanjivani: A Medical Boon (2003–2005). In 2006, she participated in Bigg Boss 1. Ganguly continued to appear in numerous successful television series, portraying Sujata in Ek Packet Umeed (2008) and Pinky Khanna Ahuja in Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi (2011–2013), following which she took a sabbatical from acting for seven years, and returned with Anupamaa.
Early Life and Family
Ganguly was born on 5 April 1977 in Bombay, (present-day Mumbai), Maharashtra into a Bengali Hindu family. Ganguly’s father, Anil Ganguly, was a director and screenwriter and her brother Vijay Ganguly is a choreographer. She studied hotel management and theatre.
Read More: Tripti Dimri | Sonali Bendre
Personal life
Ganguly married businessman Ashwin K. Verma on 6 February 2013. The couple has a son born 25 August 2013.
Rupali Ganguly Age Boyfriend Husband Family Biography
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Roopa, Rups IMBD |
| Profession(s) | Actress, Theatre Artist |
| Famous Role | ‘Monisha Sarabhai’ in the TV serial “Sarabhai VS Sarabhai” |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | 5′ 9″ (175 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Career | |
| Debut | Film (As a child actress): Saaheb (1985) Film: Angaara (1996) TV: Sukanya (2000) |
| Award | 20 February 2024: Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award for Best Actress in a Television Series for ‘Anupamaa’ |
| Politics | |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (April 2024-present) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 5 April 1977 (Tuesday) |
| Age (as of 2024) | 47 Years |
| Birthplace | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Educational Qualification | Graduate in Hotel Management |
| Religion | Hinduism IMBD |
| Ethnicity | Bengali |
| Food Habit | Vegan |
| Hobbies | Travelling, Swimming |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | Ashwin K Verma (Businessman) |
| Marriage Date | 13 February 2013 |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Ashwin K Verma |
| Children | Son– Rudransh (Born on 25 August 2015) Daughter– None |
| Parents | Father– Anil Ganguly (Director, Screenwriter) Mother– Name Not Known  |
| Siblings | Brother– Vijay Ganguly (Actor and Producer) Sister– None |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Aloo Parantha |
| Beverage | Tea |
| Actor | Amitabh Bachchan |
| Travel Destination | London |
| Colour | Blue |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | Mercedes Benz |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary | Rs. 3 lakh/episode (as of February 2022) Note: In February 2022, she became the highest paid television actress in India. India TV |
Career
Ganguly made her acting debut at age seven with her father’s film Saaheb in 1985 in her childhood.Her first film is Balidan Bengali Film when she was nearly 12years old. She made her television debut in Sukanya in 2000, and has also appeared in Sanjivani and Bhabhi.
Ganguly received widespread recognition and critical acclaim for her portrayal of Monisha Sarabhai, a middle-class young woman married in a high society, Cuffe Parade-living socialite family in the cult sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai from 2004 to 2006. Later in November 2006, Ganguly participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 1. She got evicted in its tenth week.
She is also a part of many Hindi theatre plays in her career, Some of her plays are Oye Ki Girl Hain, Selfie, and Patte Khul Gaye. In 2009, she participated in Colors TV’s stunt-based reality show, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 2. She also gave voice-over in an animation film Dashavatar in 2008. In 2000, she established an advertising agency in Mumbai.
Since 2020, she is portraying the titular character in StarPlus’s Anupamaa. Ganguly made her digital debut in 2022 with her ongoing show Anupamaa’s prequel web series named Anupama: Namaste America which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar in 2022.
Political Career
Ganguly started her political career in 2024, by joining Bharatiya Janta Party at the party headquarters in Delhi, on 1 May 2024. On joining BJP, she said, “The one personality that attracts everyone towards BJP is PM Narendra Modi. When I see this ‘Mahayagya’ of development, I feel that I should also take part in this.”
In the media
A report from Times Of India marked her as the highest-earning Indian television actor in 2023. Ganguly is known for portraying powerful roles on-screen. In the Eastern Eye’s “Top 50 Asian Stars” list, she was placed 29th in 2022. In 2023, Ganguly was featured in an ad for the Vocal for Local campaign, along with her Anupamaa co-actor Gaurav Khanna.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Saaheb | Uncredited | |
| 1987 | Mera Yaar Mera Dushman | ||
| 1990 | Balidan | Bengali film | |
| 1996 | Angaara | Gulabi | |
| 1997 | Do Ankhen Barah Hath | Neeta Dayaram | |
| 2006 | Premante Inte | Lizi | Telugu film |
| 2008 | Dashavatar | Apsara | Voice role |
| Eti | Shreya | Bengali film | |
| 2011 | Satrangee Parachute | Sumitra C. Sharma |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2001 | Sukanya | Sukanya | |
| 2002 | Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi | Priya / Anjali | |
| 2002 | Suraag – The Clue | Shweta | Episode 172 |
| 2003–2004 | Zindagi…Teri Meri Kahani | Riya | |
| 2003–2005 | Sanjivani: A Medical Boon | Dr. Simran Chopra | |
| 2004 | Bhabhi | Roshni Khanna | |
| 2004–2006 | Sarabhai vs Sarabhai | Manisha “Monisha” Singh Sarabhai | |
| 2005–2007 | Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii | Gayatri Agarwal | |
| 2005 | Kkavyanjali | Mona Mittal | |
| 2005 | CID: Special Bureau | Meera | |
| 2006 | Yes Boss | Sharmili | |
| 2006–2007 | Bigg Boss 1 | Contestant | 6th place |
| 2007 | Sapna Babul Ka… Bidaai | Roopa | |
| 2008 | Ek Packet Umeed | Sujata Dharamraj | |
| Zara Nachke Dikha | Contestant | Season 1 | |
| 2009 | Aapki Antara | Anuradha Rai | |
| Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 2 | Contestant | 12th place | |
| 2010 | Kitchen Champion 2 | ||
| Meethi Choori No 1 | |||
| Baa Bahoo Aur Baby | Rekha Sharma | ||
| 2011 | Adaalat | Public Prosecutor Rohini Malik | |
| Mujhe Meri Family Se Bachao | Sweetie Avasthi | ||
| 2011–2013 | Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi | Pinky Kaur Khanna Ahuja | |
| 2013 | Bioscope | Host | |
| 2020–present | Anupamaa | Anupamaa “Anu” Joshi | |
| 2022 | Ravivaar With Star Parivaar | ||
| 2022; 2023; 2024 | Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai | Anupamaa | |
| 2023 | Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Sarabhai vs Sarabhai: Take 2 | Manisha “Monisha” Singh Sarabhai |
| 2022 | Anupama: Namaste America | Anupama Joshi |