Mahabharat's 'Draupadi' Roopa Ganguly Arrested During Protest Over Schoolboy's Death In Kolkata, Granted Bail

Roopa Ganguly, known for her iconic portrayal of Draupadi in the 1980s TV show Mahabharat, was arrested by Kolkata Police during a protest at a police station. The former BJP MP, who had previously made headlines for her political career, is now in the spotlight again due to this controversy.

Roopa Ganguly was arrested and taken to the Kolkata Police Headquarters at Lalbazar after staging a protest at the Bansdroni Police Station on the night of October 2. The former BJP MP was demanding the release of fellow party leader Rubi Das, who had been detained in connection with a road accident. Ganguly was arrested for obstructing police duties. The protest followed the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy who was struck by an excavator while standing with his bicycle. The incident sparked outrage among locals, leading to overnight protests and vandalism of the excavator involved.

Roopa Ganguly became a household name through her role in Mahabharat, where her strong performance in the ‘cheer-haran’ scene mesmerised audiences. Her portrayal earned her several accolades, including the Smita Patil Memorial Award. She also reprised her role in Mahabharat Katha, cementing her legacy in Indian television history.

Roopa Ganguly’s role as Draupadi in Mahabharat was just the beginning of her career. Roopa worked with acclaimed directors like Mrinal Sen and Rituparno Ghosh. Her career took off in 1987 with the Bengali series Muktabandha and gained national recognition in 1988 with Ganadevta. She has also starred in various popular Hindi shows such as Kanoon (1993), Chandrakanta (1994), Karam Apnaa Apnaa (2007), and Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo (2009). In Bengali television, she starred in series like Janmabhoomi (1997) and Draupadi (2000).

In 2015, Roopa Ganguly made a big change in her career by entering politics. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections and became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha. However, she lost in the 2016 elections in Howrah North to Trinamool Congress candidate Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Later that year, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha after cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned.