Roopa Ganguly, a talented Indian actress, gained widespread recognition for her iconic role as Draupadi in the 1988 mythological TV series Mahabharat, directed by B.R. Chopra. Interestingly, her role was listed at the 12th position in the end credits. Born in Kalyani, near Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Ganguly's early life was marked by her marriage to Dhrubo Mukerjee in 1992, which lasted until 2006.
In an interview, Ganguly revealed that her husband became increasingly insecure about her growing recognition as an actress. This was followed by the birth of her son, Akash, in 1997. Her personal life took another turn when she entered a live-in relationship with singer Dibyendu, with whom she shared a flat in Mumbai until their eventual breakup.
Ganguly's acting career began in 1986 with the film Nirupama, directed by Bijoy Chatterjee, after completing her graduation from Calcutta. Her subsequent role was in Stree Ki Patra, directed by Soumita Chatterjee, in the same year. Her breakthrough role came when she played Draupadi in Mahabharat, which catapulted her to stardom.
This success led to roles in films like Ek Din Achanak (1989) by Mrinal Sen, Padma Nadir Majhi (1993) by Gautam Ghose, Yugant (1995) by Aparna Sen, Abar Aranye (2003) by Gautam Ghose, Antarmahal (2006) by Rituparno Ghosh, and numerous television series, including Sukanya (1998). She also appeared in notable cameo roles in films like Dekha and Hemlock Society.
After working in a few Hindi films, Ganguly shifted her focus to Kolkata and then to Mumbai in 2007, with the English film Bow Barracks Forever (2004) directed by Anjan Dutt. She continued to act in Bengali films and Hindi TV series, including Karam Apnaa Apnaa (2007),Love Story (SAB TV series) (2007),and Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo (2009).
Ganguly has also won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her work in the Bengali film Abhosheyshey. She has collaborated with south superstar Dr. Vishnuvardhan in two films, Inspector Dhanush (Hindi) and Police Mathu Daada (Kannada). In 2015, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, marking a significant milestone in her personal and professional life.
