Roopa Ganguly is an Indian actress and politician, best known for her work in Bengali cinema and television, and for her portrayal of Draupadi in the Doordarshan television series Mahabharat (1988–1990) directed by B. R. Chopra. She has also served as a Member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, nominated by the President of India.
| Full name | Roopa Ganguly |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1966, Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Occupation | Actress, singer, politician |
| Languages of work | Bengali, Hindi |
| Notable role | Draupadi in Mahabharat (Doordarshan, 1988–1990) |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Parliamentary role | Member of Rajya Sabha (nominated, 2016) |
| Major awards | National Film Award – Special Jury Award (1997) |
Roopa Ganguly was born and raised in Kolkata. She entered the performing arts during the 1980s, building a career first in Bengali theatre and films before achieving nationwide recognition through Hindi television.
Her most widely recognised role is that of Draupadi in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat, telecast on Doordarshan between 1988 and 1990. The series became one of the most-watched programmes in Indian television history, and her portrayal of the central female character is regarded as iconic. She has since appeared in numerous Bengali television serials.
Ganguly has worked extensively in Bengali films, collaborating with directors including Rituparno Ghosh. Her notable films include Antarmahal, Abar Aranye, and Teesta. She received the National Film Award – Special Jury Award in 1997 for her performance in the Bengali film Yugant, directed by Aparna Sen.
She has appeared in Hindi films in supporting roles, including titles such as Lagaan-era productions and other character-driven projects, while remaining primarily associated with the Bengali film industry.
Ganguly is also a trained singer and has released albums of Rabindra Sangeet, the genre of songs composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
Ganguly joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and became active in the party's West Bengal unit. She was appointed President of the BJP Mahila Morcha (women's wing) in West Bengal. In 2016, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India under the category reserved for distinguished individuals from the arts.
During her tenure in Parliament, she was associated with debates on issues including women's safety and political violence in West Bengal. She contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Howrah constituency on a BJP ticket, but was unsuccessful.
Roopa Ganguly is regarded as one of the leading Bengali actresses of her generation, with a career spanning theatre, mainstream cinema, parallel cinema, television, and music. Her portrayal of Draupadi remains a reference point in Indian popular culture, while her work with directors such as Aparna Sen and Rituparno Ghosh has placed her among notable performers in art-house Bengali cinema. Her later transition into national politics added a public-policy dimension to her career.