MUMBAI — In a candid interview with SCREEN, television producer Rajan Shahi, the creative force behind the hit show Anupamaa, has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the show’s lead actress, Rupali Ganguly. Shahi alleged that he once had to fire an actor from the set for inviting the media to “badmouth” the show and its star.
Rajan Shahi expressed his frustration with what he calls a “smear campaign” against Rupali Ganguly. “When people badmouth Rupali Ganguly, they will get covered in the media,” he said. He revealed that an unnamed actor from the show would invite journalists to his home to speak ill of Anupamaa. “I had thrown him out of the set at 2:30 pm,” Shahi recounted, adding that the actor then “ran a smear campaign against the show.”
While he did not name the actor, Shahi stressed that the individual only started speaking out after their departure from the show. “Why didn’t you speak when you were a part of the show?” he questioned. He referred to Rupali as a “very soft target,” explaining that criticizing her is an easy way for people to gain media attention, especially if they have “no professional achievements to talk about.”
Shahi acknowledged that no one is perfect and that disagreements are a natural part of working in a team. He said that he constantly advises Rupali to ignore the criticism and focus on her work, adding that he and the team sometimes “laugh at” the immature behavior of actors who make faces or speak against the show.
He also had high praise for Rupali, highlighting the significant sacrifices she has made for the show. He recounted how Rupali had taken a break from acting for 10 years to focus on her family before making a comeback with Anupamaa. Shahi revealed that the channel was initially divided on casting her, but he “took a stand.” He concluded by stating that only a few television actors, such as Smriti Irani, Sakshi Tanwar, and Mona Singh, have achieved the level of success that Rupali has.
Anupamaa, which premiered in July 2020, is a remake of the Bengali drama Sreemoyee. It has consistently been one of the most-watched shows on Indian television and is also available for digital streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.