Exclusive! Rupali Ganguly: My husband is the Anupamaa of my house

The actor, who won the Compassionate Changemaker of the Year award at the OTTplay Changemakers Awards 2023, says that she became an actor so that she could spread awareness about animal cruelty

Dhwani Desai

Apr 01, 2023

Exclusive! Rupali Ganguly: My husband is the Anupamaa of my house

Rupali Ganguly received the Compassionate Changemaker of the Year award at the OTTplay Changemakers Awards 2023

Rupali Ganguly is among the most popular TV actresses today, and her soap opera, Anupamaa, is among the most-watched shows week after week. It goes without saying that Rupali has secured a place for herself in the hearts of audiences. But do you know what’s closest to her heart?

The actress, who was given the Compassionate Changemaker of the Year award at the recently-held OTTplay Changemakers Awards 2023 in Mumbai, says that spreading awareness about the need to be kind to animals is something that she’s always wanted to do, adding that this was one big reason she became an actor.

In a no-holds-barred conversation with OTTplay right after winning the award, Rupali spoke about this and more.

What is going through your mind as you hold this award of a changemaker?
It is very, very, very special. It's an honour to be recognised for your on-screen work, but it’s even more special to be recognised for a cause that you're passionate about. For as long as I can remember, fur babies (animals) have been the closest to my heart. The only reason I wanted to become an actor was so that I would become a known face, one who people would listen to. And with that fame, I wanted to spread the message to please stop being cruel to animals.

I really wish that every street baby (animal) had a home. I know it's very idealistic, but as long as young kids think like this, I think that there is hope for the future — that there will be kindness in this world. I know a lot of young kids who think like this. My son loves animals and also spreads awareness about the need to be kind to them.

It's very important to be kind. It's not important to be famous, rich, or talented. Kindness is what’s important in life. I always say ki hum yahan pe karam kamane aaye hain. So this award is a form of validation that I am on the right path. Which is why this is going to be my most special trophy.

You have received a lot of love for Anupamaa. In the show, you play a housewife and have added layers of dignity to the character. Do you feel a sense of responsibility as a popular actor while picking characters?
Homemakers are the most underappreciated people. We always say that mothers work the most — they are the first to wake up and the last to go to sleep. I was at home and not working, for the first 6.5 years of my son’s life. And I think I worked the hardest then. When I'm doing a show that's on air seven days a week, I work almost every day. Of course, I enjoy it and love it. Thank God for Anupamaa!

But as I was saying, homemakers are the most underappreciated, even though they have the most difficult job. Today, in my house, my husband (businessman Ashwin K Verma) is the homemaker; he is the mother to our son. My husband is the Anupamaa of my house.

Homemakers are responsible for the upbringing of the next generation, so they are responsible for the change that is going to come in every generation. So, I salute homemakers, whether they are men or women. I’m so proud of my husband for taking care of our home and letting me go out and work. He doesn't need me to go out and work.

Think about this: I was a homemaker who went out to work, became Anupamaa and a changemaker... God has been really kind! I think it's my father up there who's making all my dreams come true.

Transcribed and edited by Dhwani Desai