When Rupali Ganguly wanted to get in shape for Anupamaa but producer refused, here's why

Anupamaa actress Rupali Ganguly recalled the time when she was offered Anupamaa. It was when she was grieving the loss of her filmmaker father Anil Ganguly . The actress revealed that she was not ready but her husband Ashwin encouraged her to go ahead with the show. She also wanted to shed some kilos for the role, but the show producer refused.

In a recent media interaction, Rupali opened up about how her father Anil played a significant role in her journey. While talking about it she revealed that when she was approached for the titular role, the producer told her that she needs to look like a mother, not a heroine. “During this time, devastatingly, I lost Papa. I was still grieving when I got offered Anupamaa. Ashwin encouraged me, ‘It’s high time you got your due as an actor. You go out there–I’ll take care of everything else.’ But I was hesitant. So, I went to my producer, Rajan Shahi , who I trusted a lot, & said, ‘Give me time to get in shape.’ But he told me, ‘I want a mother, not a heroine!’ His conviction made the show what it is..” she told Humans of Bombay.

Also read: Rupali Ganguly hailed as 'real life Anupamaa' after she takes her wheelchair-bound mother-in-law for lunch 

Further, Rupali also revealed that she had to wait tables, and work in a boutique after her father’s two films flopped. “Once, an actress backed out of Papa’s film, & he put me in it. Just like that, at 12, the acting bug bit me! But soon, Papa had 2 flops. Our tough time began, & my dream took a backseat. I did everything—worked in a boutique, catered, and even waited tables. I was once a waiter at a party where Papa was a guest!”

For the unversed, Anil Ganguly was an Indian film director and screenwriter who worked between the 1970s and 2001. He made National award-winning films such as Jaya Bhaduri 's Kora Kagaz (1974) and Rakhee starrer-Tapasya (1975).

Rupali also went on to say that the story of Anupamaa is something that her father would have written. “Being on the sets of Anupamaa made me feel close to Papa! It was the kind of story that he would’ve written, with a strong female lead.” Meanwhile, Rupali is currently one of the popular actresses in the TV industry. After making her television debut with the 1998 serial Sukanya, she has been part of some hit television shows including Sanjivani, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, and many more.