Actor Rupali Ganguly demands Rs 50 crore compensation from stepdaughter for 'maligning' her character

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): Actor Rupali Ganguly has sent a defamation notice to her stepdaughter Esha Verma, demanding Rs 50 crore in compensation for allegedly tarnishing her reputation and personal life. The notice was issued in response to Esha's "false and damaging" statements, with Ganguly taking legal action to protect her reputation. The notice, sent by Ganguly's lawyer Sana Raees Khan, accuses Esha of publishing harmful posts and comments on various social media platforms, including Twitter (now X), Instagram, and Facebook. Ganguly's legal team expressed that the actor was "shocked" to see the accusations and felt the need to clarify the facts, which led to the defamation notice. The notice further mentions that Ganguly has suffered mental trauma, requiring medical attention, and was subjected to humiliation on set, resulting in lost professional opportunities.

Despite wanting to maintain a "dignified silence," Ganguly was forced to take legal action due to the damage caused to her reputation and the way her and Ashwin Verma's 11-year-old son was dragged into the controversy. The notice demands Rs 50 crore in compensation and an unconditional public apology from Esha. If these demands are not met, Ganguly has threatened to pursue further legal measures. The notice also clarified that Rupali Ganguly and Ashwin Verma had been friends for over 12 years before his separation from his second wife (Esha's mother) in 2009. Ganguly, along with Ashwin, had tried to help Esha break into the entertainment industry by offering opportunities for photoshoots and arranging auditions. The issue began when a Reddit post went viral, which included a screenshot of an old Facebook comment made by Esha. In the comment, she accused Ganguly of having an affair with her father while he was still married to Esha’s mother, labeling Rupali as "cruel-hearted." The post gained significant attention, prompting Ashwin Verma to deny the allegations on X. Esha then responded on Instagram, suggesting, "There's a darker side to this story... All I ask for is compassion as it unfolds."