Anupamaa star Rupali Ganguly recently found herself at the centre of controversy after an old post by her husband Ashwin K Verma's daughter, Esha Verma, resurfaced on the internet. Esha, Ashwin's daughter from a previous marriage, made claims in her viral post accusing Rupali of being “controlling” and “psychotic” toward her father. Ashwin, who was married twice before meeting Rupali and has a daughter from each previous marriage, has now stepped forward to address these allegations. He has issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The businessman wrote, “I do have two daughters from previous relationships, something Rupali and I have always been open about that I care a great deal about. I understand that my younger daughter still holds a lot of hurt about the dissolution of her parent's relationship as divorce is a difficult experience that can greatly affect and harm the children of that marriage. But marriages end for many reasons, and my relationship with my second wife had multiple challenges that led to our separation-challenges that were between she and I and that had nothing to do with any other person. I only want the best for my children and my wife and it saddens me to see anyone being pulled into cycles of negativity by the media.”
It is worth noting that Rupali Ganguly and Ashwin K Verma got married in 2013. The couple has a son named Rudransh.
For context, here's all that happened before Ashwin K Verma's statement:
Esha Verma's old Facebook post went viral
In a 2020 post, Esha Verma took a dig at Rupali Ganguly. She wrote, “This is absolutely pathetic. Does anyone know the real story of Rupali Ganguly? She has had an affair with Ashwin K Verma for twelve years while he was in his second marriage. Ashwin has two daughters from his previous marriages. She is nothing but a cruel-hearted woman who has done nothing but tried to separate me and my sister, his own daughters from their father.”
Esha Verma also alleged that Rupali Ganguly made death threats toward her and her mother. She added, “I'm speaking out because she claims all over the media that she has a happy marriage with my dad, when in reality she's controlling and psychotic towards him. Whenever I try to call my father, she starts yelling and screaming death threats to myself and my mother. It's not fair that she ruined lives of Ashwin's real family and has been publicizing that they have a true love marriage when she's destroyed others to get what she wants. Honestly, she's conducted acts very similar to what Rhea Chakraborty has done to SSR. She feeds my dad's strange medications and is very controlling of his life.”
Esha Verma's Instagram post with Ashwin K Verma and Rupali Ganguly
In 2021, Esha Verma shared an Instagram post, where she looked happy with her father and Rupali Ganguly. In the snap, the trio looks happy and they pose for the camera. The caption read, “Cheersin' with the star-ents (parents)” Take a look:
Esha Verma's recent interview
In a recent interview, Esha Verma reaffirmed her claims from the viral Facebook post, accusing Rupali Ganguly. Esha also stated that there is “no relationship” between her and Rupali, other than Rupali being the mother of her step-brother. She said, "I've been seeing it going viral and it's definitely overwhelming but I'm glad it's being brought to ligh,” in a conversation with Hindustan Times. Talking about her equation with Rupali, Esha added, “Not really, there's no relationship between the two of us. She's just the mother of my brother, and that's about it.”
Esha Verma's statement about the happy Instagram picture
In the same interview, Esha Verma also talked about the Instagram post, where she seems happy with Rupali Ganguly and Ashwin K Verma. She called it “bare minimum,” adding that nothing much has changed. Esha shared, “Nothing much has changed, I posted the picture to showcase that I am related to both of them, since neither my father nor Rupali chose to acknowledge me as family, personally nor publicly. Going to meet my dad once after 5 years was a blessing but also the bare minimum, as people are very lucky in this world to have both their parents. My father hasn't been in my life and left home when I was 8. She following me on Instagram and taking me out to dinner was the bare minimum too. I wanted to post that picture to showcase that he is my father, as I have the right to do so. But he's never posted me, and it hurts to see that they're a great, happy family, but he left his other family behind.”
Esha Verma's latest post on X
On Monday, Esha Verma shared a post on X. She thanked everyone who reached out and understood her perspective. Esha wrote, “Hello, To everyone who's seen the recent news and reached out - thank you for taking the time to understand my perspective. Watching something so personal go viral has been surreal and overwhelming. This isn't just a headline; it's my life, my childhood, and the pain I endured then and still feel today. I'm grateful to those who have approached this with kindness, consideration, and respect. It's a lot to process, and the comments and attention are heavy. But I'm choosing to stand by my experiences, because some truths need to be heard. Although I first spoke out about this four years ago, I've grown, matured, and healed a lot since then. Standing up and sharing my truth now reflects the strength I've found in that journey, and I believe it shouldn't be shut down.”
Esha continued, “My father and his wife may deny these claims, but I believe their response is rooted in fear of the truth finally surfacing. I love my father deeply and idolized him as any young daughter would. But he chose to exclude me from his life, and that disconnection has been incredibly painful. Watching her rise in the entertainment world with a public image so far from reality has only added to the hurt, especially as she plays a character who champions the very values she disregarded in real life. I know I'm risking a lot by speaking up, but if my voice is finally heard, that's enough.”
“This is probably the beginning of another long battle, but it feels like the start of justice. I wouldn't wish the pain of a broken family on anyone, especially in circumstances like mine. Every child deserves mental health support and a loving, consistent presence from their parents. If sharing my story can help even one person feel seen or supported, I'm here for that. It's never acceptable to build happiness on the heartbreak of others. There's a darker side to this story, one I'm not ready to share yet, as it's a lot to process with everything now unfolding. For now, I hope people can understand the impact this has had on me and approach it with respect. To those who support and respect this, thank you for being kind, considerate, and respectful. And to those who might judge or dismiss it, please consider the lifelong impact situations like this can have. All I ask for is compassion as this unfolds. I'm here to share my story, and I'm grateful to everyone who stands by that. Thank you for listening,” Esha Verma concluded.
As per reports, Esha Verma currently lives in New Jersey, USA.