Popular television star Rupali Ganguly says she never saw herself as a star despite a long career and hit shows like “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai”, “Parvarrish” and “Kkavyanjali” but “Anupamaa”, with its unprecedented popularity, changed the way people perceived her.Ganguly, whose other popular shows include “Baa Bahoo Aur Baby”, and “Adaalat”, plays the titular character of a middle-class homemaker who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The Star Plus show has been a major hit since it debuted in 2020.”I was never a star before ‘Anupamaa’. I was just an actor until then, but people realised that I was doing my work well, that’s about it. Even when ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’ was telecast, it had low TRPs, and that show became big later.”Suddenly, after ‘Anupamaa’ people realised that I was fantastic in ‘Sarabhai’. So, ‘Anupamaa’ has been the catalyst. Even in award functions, I was made to sit behind but today if I’m sitting in the front row, it is because of ‘Anupamaa’,” the actor said in an interview.The actor, 49, attributed the popularity of the show, made by Rajan Shahi and Deepa Shahi under their banner, Director’s Kut Productions, to its relatable storytelling and its focus on homemakers, who are often overlooked.”I’ve stayed at home for over six years, I know we are important for our family. In the show, we are talking about the housewives. We are the voice for the voiceless,” the actor said, adding that the show is equally popular among men.Ganguly said: “Anupamaa” has also helped challenge long-held industry perceptions about lack of roles for women in TV after a certain age.”There was a belief that women after a certain age will get only certain roles, like a mother’s role but ‘Anupamaa’ came and changed the perception that industry had towards older actresses. It has shown that strong, meaningful stories with women at the centre, work. A lot of them (actors) came and thanked me and said, ‘You’ve changed things’. But it was not me, it was Rajan ji, who had the courage to bring a show like this.”Reflecting on her long career in the industry, the actor said she faced her share of struggles and had to consistently prove herself despite coming from a film background.Her father, Anil Ganguly, was a national-award winning director, best known for women-centric films like “Kora Kagaz”, “Tapasya” and “Humkadam”, among others.”If my father wouldn’t have hit a roadblock in his career, I wouldn’t have learned to value things. I completed my studies and did all kinds of odd jobs like working as a sales girl in a boutique, catering job, etc. Every job that I’ve done, I’m proud of it,” Ganguly said.”I did Telugu, Bhojpuri films, and TV shows and some people would laugh at me saying, ‘You are the daughter of Anil Ganguly, who has won national award twice, and you are doing TV, and that I failed to make an impact in films’.”Ganguly said she kept herself busy with TV shows and theatre. The offer to send a self-audition clip for “Anupamaa” came to her while she was in Indore performing a play, “Patte Khul Gaye” with actor Rakesh Bedi in 2019. Bedi, another major TV and film star, has found his moment in the limelight with his role of Jameel Jamali in “Dhurandhar”.Ganguly bagged her first title role after being selected in her audition and look test. She later found out that Shahi was the producer. She started her television career with Shahi on the 2000 show “Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi”.”I can never forget that excitement of playing the title role. I was like after many years, I’ve got this kind of a (big) opportunity and I didn’t want to let this go away,” Ganguly recalled.”He (Shahi) told me that we will see for three months how the show performs but it clicked. I never thought in my wildest dreams that it is going to be a cult show, and it is going to be something that has changed my life completely,” she added.The actor is familiar with all the love and some hate that “Anupamaa” gets.”I would only choose to see the love rather than anybody trying to pull me down. I try and ignore it, I remove the negativity and focus on the positive and move forward and keep working. Whether you like it or hate it, you can’t ignore it (show).”Ganguly, who acted in Bengali films “Saaheb” and “Balidan”, said she has been receiving film offers but her work in “Anupamaa” will always be her “priority”.”I see ‘Anupamaa’ going on for years and years. I’ll not leave ‘Anupamaa’ because it is my second home and the unit is my family… I’m getting these (film) offers because of the show. So, whatever I can do alongside ‘Anupamaa’, like brand shoots, I do it.”