Rupali Ganguly Enters Politics: A Look Back At Anupamaa's Journey From Child Artist To BJP Member

TV actor Rupali Ganguly, famous for her roles in TV serials such as Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Anupamaa, joined Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Wednesday ahe of third phase of Lok Sabha elections. This marks a new milestone in 47-year-old actress' career. With Rupali joining politics, here's a look back at her career in showbiz.

Family background and early beginnings in showbiz

Rupali Ganguly is daughter of popular Indian film director and screenwriter Anil Ganguly. She started young in her acting career, at 7, and featured in her far's 1985 film Saaheb, which featured Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh in le roles. In movie, Rupali's younger bror Vijay Ganguly also played a small part.

In a previous interview, Rupali candidly confessed how she thought her bror would become and actor. "I used to write skits and he used to act in m," Rupali told a news portal confessing that her interest initially lied in working behind camera like her far. As fate would have it, Rupali went on to become an actress and one of leing faces in Indian telly scene.

Rupali's acting career gets a he start

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Rupali me her TV debut with Sukanya, which aired in 2000. She played le role in it but it did not run long. After Sukanya wound up, Rupali did smaller parts in TV serials Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi, Suraag – Clue and Zindagi...Teri Meri Kahani. Though y were smaller parts, Rupali's performances me producers take a note of her.

After this, Rupali featured in 2003 medical drama Sanjivani: A Medical Boon. She played role of  Dr Simran Chopra, one of main doctors in show. She became an integral part of ensemble cast which included names like Gurdeep Kohli, Mohnish Behl, Iravati Harshe and Sanjeet Bedi.

She n gained wider recognition for her portrayal of Monisha in 2004 sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. Her quirky character struck a chord with audiences. show became immensely popular in Indian TV space and me stars out of its cast members, including Rupali. Even now, Monisha is one of actress' most cherished and remembered roles. It wrapped up in 2006.

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai catapulted Rupali into bigger leagues. While it depicted her flair for comedy, subsequent parts she did in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kkavyanjali, Ek Packet Umeed, Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai and Baa Bahoo Aur Baby let shine in serious roles. reafter, she took a brear frrom daily soaps and participated in first season of controversial reality show Bigg Boss, which was won by actor Rahul Roy. Owing to her popularity she managed to go quite far ahe in show.

Apart from controversial reality show, Rupali also did Khatron Ke Khili 2 and Kitchen Champion 2. She also acted in Telugu film Premante Inte and Bengali movie Eti.

Rupali gets married, takes a break from TV industry

Rupali got married to insurance executive-turned-businessman and filmmaker Ashwin Verma, who moved from New York to become her life partner. Rupali first met Ashwin in 2000, when she was doing Sanjivani. couple tied knot in February 2013 and have a son named Rudransh. Shorty after her marriage, Rupali took a break from acting. Her hiatus from industry lasted seven long years.

When it seemed like Rupali h bid ieu to showbiz, in 2020, she announced her comeback with Anupamaa, which would see her essay titular role.

Rupali's big comeback with Anupamaa

soap star owes her huge popularity today to titular character in long-running family drama Anupamaa, who she's been playing since 2020. For many, character is embodiment of modern-day housewives, who are unafraid to step out of confines of ir homes to start ir second innings. show, which is now in its episode No 1,272, also stars Sudhanshu Pandey as Vanraj, Malsa Sharma and Gaurav Khanna.

"I am blessed to have been playing a character that has impacted women's power and highlighted strength of women, and I feel so blessed," Rupali told IANS in an interview about essaying titular role in Anupamaa.

Rupali, in several interviews, has credited her husband Ashwin for helping her make her comeback to acting after a long break. She revealed that her husband decided to put himself in “back seat” so that one of m could be with ir son all time.

Rupali wants to devote herself to 'service of nation'

Rupali's political plunge came as a surprise to many. On Wednesday, after joining BJP in presence of party's national general secretary Vinod Tawde, Rupali shared her excitement and said, "I cannot express how I am feeling sitting on this stage. I am feeling like it was destined to happen, and that's why I have taken that long journey of art and came here."

She ded, "We are fans of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am grateful that I meet a lot of new people because of my acting career. I now want to move on path of Mr Modi, and do service of nation."

It will be interesting to see how Rupali fares in this new phase of her professional life. More noteworthy will be what turn show Anupamaa takes in wake of her decision to join politics.