role in Antarmahal (2005). She was awarded in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her role in Sekhar Das's National Award winning Bengali film Krantikaal (2005) at the 9th Dhaka International Film Festival. In January 2006, she was named by The Indian Express in the list of the five most powerful actresses of 2005. She was further acclaimed for her roles in films such as Kaaler Rakhal (2009), Chowrasta - The Crossroads of Love (2009), Chaurahen (2012), Na Hannyate (2012), Dutta Vs Dutta (2012) and Punascha (2014). In 2011, she received the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for rendering her voice in Aditi Roy's Bengali film Abosheshey (2012). Goutam Ghose said that "she has that skill to transform herself into any character she plays." Rituparno Ghosh described her as "a roisterer of pathos and exuberance through the portrayal of her characters." Early life Ganguly was born to Samarendra Lal Ganguly and Juthika Ganguly on 25 November 1963. She grew up in a joint family. She was a student of Beltala Girls' High School from which she finished her secondary examination. She completed her Higher Secondary Education from Jodhpur Park Girls' High School. Later, she obtained a bachelor's degree from the Jogamaya Devi College, an affiliated undergraduate women's college of University of Calcutta, in Kolkata. Ganguly had to face financial problem during her college days. Acting career Ganguly never intended to be an actress. After she completed her graduation, she was suggested by some of her relatives to pursue acting. She attended a wedding ceremony where she was introduced to Bijoy Chatterjee who was looking for a fresh face with unplucked eyebrows to play the female lead in his Hindi short film Nirupama (1986) based on Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali short story Dena Paona. Ganguly was initially hesitant to accept his proposal but later gave her nod on the insistence of her aunt. Soumitra Chatterjee who played the father to her character in the film helped her get into the role of the heroine. Impressed with her potential, Soumitra Chatterjee cast her as Mrinal alongside his daughter Poulami Basu playing the role of Bindu in his directorial venture Stree Ki Patra (1986), based on Streer Patra a Bengali short story written by Tagore. Ganguly was enjoined by Ramaprasad Banik to appear for a look test for the female lead in his Bengali TV series Muktabandha (1987).