Rupali Ganguly (born 5 April 1977) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television.^[1] Ganguly is widely recognised for her portrayal of Manisha "Monisha" Singh Sarabhai in the cult sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (2004–2006) and Anupamaa in the drama Anupamaa (2020–present). She is a recipient of two Indian Telly Awards and one Indian Television Academy Award.^[2]

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 favourably 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.^[3]

Ganguly was born on 5 April 1977 in Bombay, (present-day Mumbai), Maharashtra into a Bengali Hindu family.^[4][5] Ganguly's father, Anil Ganguly, was a director and screenwriter and her brother Vijay Ganguly is a choreographer. She studied hotel management and theatre.^[6][7][8]

Ganguly made her acting debut at age seven with her father's film Saaheb in 1985. She made her television debut in Sukanya in 2000, and has also appeared in Sanjivani and Bhabhi.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11] She also gave voice over in an animation film Dashavatar in 2008.^[12] In 2000, she established an advertising agency in Mumbai.^[6]

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.^[13]

Ganguly married businessman Ashwin K. Verma on 6 February 2013. The couple has a son.^[14][15]

Ganguly started her political career in 2024, by joining Bharatiya Janta Party at the party headquarters in Delhi, on 1 May 2024.^[16] 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."^[17][18]

Ganguly has established herself as one of the most popular and highest paid television actresses in India.^[19][20] Ganguly is known for portraying powerful roles on-screen.^[21] In the Eastern Eye's "Top 50 Asian Stars" list, she was placed 29th in 2022.^[22] In 2023, Ganguly featured in an ad for the Vocal for Local campaign, along with her Anupamaa co-actor Gaurav Khanna.^[23]

• List of Indian television actresses
• List of Hindi television actresses