SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH RUPALI GANGULY: Anupamaa is my comfort zone, my alter ego, somebody who knows me inside-out

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By Team Bollyy
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SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH RUPALI GANGULY: Anupamaa is my comfort zone, my alter ego, somebody who knows me inside-out

From playing the ever so innocent and simpleton Monisha in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai to playing the evolving Anupamaa in Rajan Shahi’s Anupamaa, actor Rupali Ganguly traces her incredible journey in this candid chat for Mayapuri and bollyy.com with JYOTHI VENKATESH!

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How do you look back on your acting journey?

I feel blessed and very proud of the way my acting journey has created a path for me because when I look back to the time when I stepped into the world of television, I feel like I am a chosen one because of the plethora of the roles and the range and variations of characters that I have got has been exemplary.

It has been a great journey for me. I started at the age of 4 in one of my father's movie where I played Dina Pathak's child and I remember there was Mithun Chakraborty in the film.

Mithun uncle used to be part of a family and he used to be practically there in all of my dad's films and when I was 7 years old there was a film Saheb where I just run into the house and touch Rakhi aunt's feet and run away inside.

That was the privileged debut that I did onscreen. Then at the age of 13 years, I did my first Bengali film Balidan which was a super-duper hit.

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I played the heroine in it to Tapas Paul who was about 20/25 years old. After that, I gave my 10th standard exams.

Daddy always used to dangle the carrot and say that I will have to finish my studies first and then become a heroine.

Because once you have done acting, it's like a virus you cannot get rid of. Then I did my college and like everyone, I started with modelling and at that time we were not at all aware of anything.

Like now the newcomers are so aware of everything and they are so prepared. we were just not prepared for any of these things.

Anyways from the time I stepped into television, I have really been blessed for getting such fantastic roles and to have got a chance to work with some fantastic makers.

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You have been in some legendary serials, but which is closest to your heart?

All the serials have been very special to me. I have been very blessed to be able to play such a phenomenal range of characters.

But two characters which will go on my epitaph will be Monisha from Sarabhai VS Sarabhai.

That show probably stopped shooting 12 or 14 years back but that show still goes on the chat where our producers, directors and everyone is there.

Every single day Sarabhai still goes on. There is some or the other thing that is happening there.

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Sarabhai may have stopped shooting but Sarabhai still goes on. And the second show which will remain very special to me because it has taught me my self-worth, my range as an actor, it has probably given me what perhaps I deserved as an actor... my due, finally.

It has given me the opportunity to showcase the terrific Bengali genes that my father gave me, the filmy genes that I got from my father and that one show which is like a life-changer, this show called Anupamaa which will always remain so special to me.

So yes, amongst all the shows that I have done and I have been blessed to do all the characters that I have done, these two shows will always remain close to my heart. These two characters Monisha Sarabhai and Anupamaa Shah I will take to my grave.

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Who has been the most memorable co-star you have worked with?

I always call myself chosen one by god. I have worked with some phenomenal actors and film stars and some of the best people.

But the Sarabhai family and specially Satish Ji and Ratna Ji are the closest. Working with them has been such a great learning experience.

Working with them has been my biggest high point in life because they both love me, they both pamper me and even now whenever Ratna ji travels or wherever she goes, she makes sure to pick up a little something for Rudra and something for me.

They are family and definitely my most favourite co-stars will be Ratna Ji and Satish Ji. I love them. They are not just co-stars but a family.

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Kaka, he still pulls my leg and how, Ratna ji is still trying to protect me always, she still thinks that I am a baby that I was in Sarabhai.

So definitely they are my most favourite co-stars and I love them. I love my Sarabhai family and I have started falling in love with my Anupamaa family too.

Paras and Alpana ji(Baa) has become very close to my heart but Sarabhai.. it’s been 14 years and all of us are still madly in love with each other.

So Ratna Ji and Satish Ji have been my strict teachers and they are just very special. I love them and I can do anything for them.

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How much does it mean that your serials like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai are still so loved?

I feel blessed that I got an opportunity to do such an iconic show and such a memorable character in that show.

The love that we all had off screen, perhaps that translated onscreen and that is the love that we had then we have now.

That is the love that people are giving back to us. So, what you see onscreen on Sarabhai is the love that we still have for each other, the bond that keeps us so close.

That is the bond that people can connect with and the fantastic and phenomenal writing and the extensive detail in the direction is what made Sarabhai so Iconic.

I just feel so blessed. I love it when people don't call me by my name. They call me Monisha or Anupamaa now. I feel so blessed that I can live so many lives in this one life.

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How did you feel landing the title role in Anupamaa and did you feel any pressure?

When I signed for the show, I knew the protagonist is a mother and this story is about how mothers are under-appreciated and how her husband is also having an affair outside and she is oblivious to the fact and she still takes everything that comes her way with a smile and doesn't let any negativity affect her.

So, the beauty of the role was such that I was dying to portray it and I did not know that the show would be called Anupamaa till the promo came out so that was a 'sone pe suhaga' for me.

No, I did not feel the pressure as the character is so well edged. The pressure was not from the producers or anybody else but the pressure was from me.

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I had to deliver because this was my golden opportunity for me to come back. I doubt any other actor is as blessed as to get such a fantastic and fabulous comeback.

So, for me, I did put a lot of pressure on myself. I still put in a lot of efforts. I am constantly learning from the new breed of actors on my sets like the way they perform. Like Paras, he is so natural.

When you see Paras performing, there is so much to learn. I still feel like a newcomer on my set. What we used to do 20 years back, television has become so different now.

It's become more comfortable. There is no pressure as such but there is some pressure to play Anupamaa.

But the pressure is worth it as the way it is getting love from people that I have no reason to see any negatives in this.

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Tell us about the serial and your character?

Anupamaa started off as a docile character. Anupamaa is a show about every mother, every woman who invests all her time in her family, whose life is her family.

For her, it’s all about loving your family. Most of us have grown up in families like this, where the fathers went out and provided for us and our mothers took care of home and hearth and brought us up.

So, the values, the rules, the discipline and the goodness that we all survive in today's world are basically ingrained from our mothers.

Anupamaa is about every woman in India and in fact even women abroad because they do so much for the home, their family and they are mostly under-appreciated especially in our rural scenarios.

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Women are almost never given their due. So Anupamaa is every woman who loves her family, it is also about the woman who travels in a local train perhaps being pregnant.

If we go to see the Dadar station, these women with big stomach are protecting their babies with one hand, protecting their stomach with another hand and somehow also catch the handle of the train and travel to work.

So many women who cut vegetable or buy vegetable or do home stuff on their way and then work a lot in their office too then work while coming back too and then work again after getting back home and then next day they wake up first and then make lunch for the husband, prepare kids’ lunch boxes, finish of home chores and then again back to local train lines and work.

Their daily schedule is all about providing the best for their families. Even the homemakers, people get a day off if one is doing a job or something like that, they can take an off or a holiday if it's a Sunday.

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But when does a mother get off? Even if they are not well or anything happens, they do not get an off. So, this show is about all those women.

Perhaps this show is resonating well with families because now they have started noticing about the very special woman in their life, be it the mother or wife.

You can find a Anupamaa in every house. We have seen some Anupamaa in our families, around us.

It started off as a docile character who would take everything to maintain calm in her family, who would take verbal abuse from her husband and take a lot of blame and also was taken for granted by everyone.

Even the children take the mother for granted, not that they didn't love her but they took her for granted.

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Samar, her middle child, has been her strongest force in the show. Now that she has got to know about her husband's affair with another woman, her trust has broken and she is broken completely inside which has changed her completely as a human being.

That woman who used not speak at all, who used to keep quiet, who used to be scared to even speak something because she didn't want her family atmosphere to get disturbed with any negativity has not changed.

Now she is taking a stand and she is on a path of becoming a strong woman because it is not a series where Anupamaa gets changed overnight.

Anupamaa is a real woman and is changing slowly and steadily taking baby steps. She is becoming stronger day by day. She is learning to be strong and independent.

She learnt driving, she started dance classes etc. When I am portraying the journey of Anupamaa I feel so proud of her.

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What is the biggest challenge of playing this role?

There is no challenge as far as the character is concerned because the writers and Rajan Sir are so clear with their vision that the directors are phenomenally bang-on with the way they need to guide us or the way they want us to portray the character.

As far as acting is concerned, there is no challenge. The only thing that I take care of is not to look ostentatious with the makeup and everything.

So most of the times on the episodes that you see me, you see me without makeup, which is like a big step in Indian television.

The biggest thing that I try to do is keep the performance as natural as possible so that it never looks like it is a character.

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It has to look like one of the common people like somebody that you see every day. Anupamaa's family has become people's favourite family nowadays.

The only challenge is being 40 plus and having the guts to go in front of the camera without make up that too on a medium like television which is known for the perfect sarees, perfect jewellery, perfect makeup, perfect one hair not out of place look…so ya, that perhaps is the only challenge which I am very comfortable with and loving too.

I hate putting on too much makeup, I hate wearing over the top sarees, jewellery, nose ring. I am just very happy being like this.

The sarees that I wear, the cotton sarees are just like my second skin, which I have been wearing since I was 13.

Anupamaa is my comfort zone, my alter ego and somebody who knows me inside-out. I love Anupamaa.

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How much does the success of this serial mean to you?

The success of this serial means a lot to me and I can't express it in a few words. I have been in the television industry for the past 20 years.

I have done a few films before that with big stars. I started at the age of 5 and it's been 38 years of career and 20 years of sheer hard work.

Anupamaa's success has finally given me what was due to me as an actor. People have started to take notice of my talent, not that it was not there before, not that I did not put my heart and soul into every role that I did but finally that effort is being appreciated.

I cannot thank or bless Rajan Shahi enough for giving me this opportunity and even Star Plus. Star Plus has been my luckiest channel.

Every show that I have done on Star Plus has changed my life. It has been pathbreaking, it has given me recognition.

Coming back after 7 years, after motherhood, and suddenly getting into a position where people have recognised me as a good actor, I cannot tell you what it means to me.

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My family feels so proud of me, my mother cannot stop watching the repeat telecast of Anupamaa, my husband, because of whom I am doing this show, has taken this responsibility of taking care of our family, leaving aside his work.

He is an ad filmmaker and he has not been taking up work to be with our son and my mother-in-law.

If it wasn't for him, I would have not been able to step out of the house and do this 7 days a week, 30 days a month and 14 hours a day.

And it means a lot because all the efforts I have put in, my family and my spouse have put in, seems validated.

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My father finally would have been proud of this show because this is a kind of show he would have loved to make.

This is a kind of show which reminds me of the kinds of films that he made and I cannot tell what this success means to me.

It makes me feel overwhelmed, validated, grateful, blessed and happy is a small word to express this feeling.

The biggest feeling that I am feeling is gratitude. Gratitude to the universe, god, to the people for giving me opportunities, to the audience who has watched this show diligently, to people who have blessed me, to my family for standing by me and especially my husband. I am nothing without me.

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Why do you think it strikes such a chord with audiences?

I think it strikes such a chord with the audiences because you find one Anupama in every home. I have grown up as a mother who has taken care of home and us all her life.

Her happiness was in her husband's success or her children doing well in their life. A homemaker like that is perhaps in every home.

Not only Anupamaa but you will find almost every character of this show like Baa, Bapuji, Jhilmil, Toshu, Pakhi, Samar, Vanraj and even somebody like Kavya in your vicinity.

It is the kind of people who you see in normal life. They are real people and the kind of emotions that we have gone through, we have portrayed in Anupamaa, probably people have gone through those emotions at some point in life as well.

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So perhaps that is the reason why it’s such a chord as people identify the emotions in the show so strongly.

The universal emotion of being a mother, that of being a homemaker, the sense of wanting to achieve something as Anupamaa…

So all the emotions that Anupamaa goes through, I am sure most of the women go through. I guess that is why it is striking such a chord.

How has it been shooting during the time of Covid-19?

Honestly, it's been very stressful but our producer takes care of the unit. Our temperature checks are done, our oxygen levels are being checked constantly and all these things keep happening.

It's just that unspoken bond in the unit that we will take care of each other and ourselves too.

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The bigger challenge is that since the actors cannot wear masks continuously, the crew keeps wearing their marks constantly.

And it is not an easy job to keep wearing masks throughout the day. We are blessed to have such fabulous people, technicians and every crew member.

I have been very comfortable on the sets because there is a bubble kind of atmosphere there.

But when I come back home, I am stressed and scared that what if by any chance I have carried the virus.

My mother in law is 88 years old, my mother who visits us once a week is also 70 plus, my child is small so I do feel scared.

So, the stress begins when we get home. and I am sure that happens with every actor who is going out to work.

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You come back home and you feel stressed that my family is safe now and because of me nobody should be falling ill.

What can we expect in the series in the coming weeks and months?

One can expect lots of new drama, high drama, entertainment and a lot many twists which will keep you hooked to the show. So, keep watching Anupamaa.

How do you cope with such a demanding work schedule?

Yes, it is very demanding and it can get hectic and tiring but when your home is stress-free, you don't really feel the stress of work.

And I am blessed to have a fabulous husband who takes care of the home, my son and everything.

The kind of sacrifice he is making is above anything I can ask for. He works from home so that I can go outside and work.

And it's a kind of a blessing to have a man who gives his woman wings to fly. I am able to cope because he is coping with everything at home and it is very rare to find a husband like mine.

It's definitely a blessing to have a husband like him, who is successful and amazing at his work but still chooses to stay back home so that his wife can do her due as an actor.

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What is the best advice you have ever been given?

My life is a model of all the advice given by my father. My work ethics have been inculcated by him.

My father has always said, "The biggest emotion which we feel is gratitude. If we feel it forever, we will never look back.”

I feel grateful to, first and foremost, god for giving me this wonderful opportunity to finally prove myself as an actor.

There are so many talented people out there but because of the lack of the correct opportunity, they perhaps never get the chance to show their potential or to achieve their true potential.

But I have got this blessed opportunity called Anupamaa. When you get something good in life, keep feeling grateful.

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Don't forget to be grateful because that is a reason God has put you in a place. Do not forget to be kind.

God has given you what you have so that you can share it with others. This is what my father has taught me in life and now I am learning so much from my husband.

He is such a wonderful human being. One thing that I love is that when I am tired and drained physically and mentally, he shows me this video of Modiji speaking about his life.

In the video, someone asks him, “Don't you get tired of travelling and meetings etc?” His answer was very simple, “Not to think so much about it”.

That thing has stuck in my head like glue. I have learnt so much from him and I think Modiji is the best prime Minister that we could have got and we are blessed to have him.

Apart from the two men in my life, I totally follow Modiji's advice in my life of not thinking much and doing your work as our thoughts have the highest powers to run us and till we don't think we are tired or exhausted it won't affect us.

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You have played many memorable characters, but do you have a dream role?

I have played many memorable characters and what I am doing right is my dream role. I am playing Anupamaa and that is every actor's dream role.

Actually, I have never had any dream roles, god has made every character of mine into a dream role and I am grateful for that.

When I was doing Monisha that was like a dream-come-true for me. Being able to do something like that was amazing and now that I am doing Anupamaa.

It is every actor's dream and I can say it because there are a lot of actor-friends, a lot of colleagues who call up or message me, even many fellow actors whom I haven't met, also message me and they tell me that, "You are doing such a wonderful job!” and this feels so good.

I am playing every actor's dream role. Touchwood, nazar na lage, I am in a blessed space right now.

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What are your passions away from work?

My family is my biggest strength and my passion too. There is nothing beyond my family. I am not the kind of person who has friends or goes out.

I have always been around my family. So, my passion away from work would be spending maximum time with my family.

Also, I am an avid animal lover and I adore everything. Dogs are my obsession…we have these wonderful furry babies on my set also and our producer is also very caring towards them.

I love working for animals, taking care of stray dogs is kind of a passion for me. I request everyone if they can feed one animal at least, feed animals around your house because it won't take much time.

They get happy with just two rotis and the unconditional love and loyalty which they give is something that is so beautiful and can never be compared to anything else. I am hoping that my dream of making an animal shelter will be fulfilled soon.

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