KOLKATA: Popular Bengali actor Rupa Ganguly, who became a household name among millions of TV viewers in the country through her splendid portrayal of Draupadi in mega Hindi television serial Mahabharat, on Wednesday became the latest among a string of high-profile names to join the BJP.
Rupa was formally welcomed into the saffron party by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who handed over a party flag to her on the occasion. It was a masterstroke by state BJP general secretary Shamik Bhattacharya-- the party’s lone MLA in West Bengal-- who had been engaged in discussions about the thespian’s entry into the BJP ranks .
“She drove me in her vehicle to Jaitleyji’s meeting herself,” said Bhattacharya.
The state BJP had been on the look out for a prominent woman in West Bengal, who would be able to woo young women and Rupa is said to be big catch for the party because of her acceptability among all sections of the people in the state.
Rupa, who has acted in innumerable Bengali and other language films too for the last 25 years, said, “I will be in active politics for the BJP and will take to the streets. I will protest against injustice and fight for the cause of the common people.”