Rupali Ganguly has recently taken legal action against her stepdaughter, Esha Verma, by issuing a defamation notice demanding Rs 50 crore in compensation for allegedly tarnishing her character and personal life. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Rupali’s lawyer, Sana RaeesKhan, clarified that the Rs 50 crore claim is a serious reflection of the extensive damage caused to Rupali’s personal dignity, public image, and career—an image she has spent years cultivating.
Khan stated, “The specified amount in the defamation notice signifies the profound harm inflicted on Ms. Rupali Ganguly’s personal and professional reputation due to unfounded and defamatory claims. This figure encompasses not just emotional distress and reputational damage, but also the negative impact on her career. Ms. Ganguly believes that false allegations must bear significant repercussions to deter similar actions in the future. This demand highlights our commitment to holding individuals accountable for malicious acts that threaten one’s dignity and livelihood.”
During the interview, Khan also discussed Esha’s response to the legal notice. “Esha has not replied to the notice. However, she has deleted her Twitter account and removed all defamatory posts. This action reinforces the notion that false statements have consequences and emphasizes the need to protect an individual’s reputation from baseless attacks. The removal of these posts is a positive step toward justice, reflecting our victory for truth and accountability, and setting a strong precedent for responsible communication regarding the dignity and reputation of others.”
Khan revealed that the notice details how Rupali has suffered mental trauma due to these allegations, requiring medical attention, and has faced humiliation on set, which led to lost professional opportunities. The notice indicates that while Rupali initially chose to remain silent out of respect, she felt compelled to take legal action after her 11-year-old son with husband Ashwin Verma was dragged into the controversy.
The situation escalated after Esha made serious allegations against her father, Ashwin Verma, and Rupali during an interview with Bollywood Bubble. The 26-year-old accused Rupali of physically assaulting her mother in Mumbai, asserting, “Rupali physically hit my mother.” Esha also described her father as “very abusive,” both physically and emotionally. She expressed the emotional turmoil she experienced during her high school years, attributing her family’s struggles to the women who entered their lives and disrupted her parents’ marriage.
Esha claimed that when her allegations gained traction, she felt pressured by her father to retract her statements. She recounted a disturbing incident when Rupali allegedly stayed in the bed shared by Esha’s parents during a visit to their home in New Jersey. Esha stated, “It was Rupali who instructed my father to serve my mother with divorce papers.” She expressed skepticism about Ashwin’s recent denials of Rupali’s involvement, asserting, “I know my father has made statements on social media denying Rupali’s role, but that is the biggest lie.”
Esha, now 26, is the daughter of Ashwin and Sapna Verma and currently lives in the United States. Ashwin and Sapna were married in 1997 and separated in 2008. Ashwin married Rupali in 2013, and they share a son named Rudransh.
