Anupamaa actress Adrija Roy on her deep bond with Durga Puja
Synopsis
Away from the sets of 'Anupamaa', actress Adrija Roy reflects on what Durga Puja truly means — not just a festival, but a portal back to Kolkata, childhood excitement, and family. For a former national-level sprinter turned television star, the saree-and-pandal ritual is the one thing Mumbai has not been able to replace.
Key Takeaways
Adrija Roy , who plays Raahi in 'Anupamaa' , has spoken about her deep emotional bond with Durga Puja .
She described the festival as a reminder of home, family, and childhood memories from Kolkata, West Bengal .
Roy said wearing a saree and visiting pandals is her ideal way to celebrate Puja.
Born and raised in Kolkata , she represented West Bengal as a national-level sprinter before moving to Mumbai to pursue acting. 'Anupamaa' features Rupali Ganguli in the titular role.
Television actress Adrija Roy, best known for playing Raahi in the popular serial 'Anupamaa', has opened up about the deeply personal significance Durga Puja holds for her — describing it as a festival that instantly transports her back to her roots in Kolkata, West Bengal.
A Festival That Feels Like Home
For Roy, Durga Puja is far more than a religious occasion. She described the festive season as a reminder of family, warmth, and the small but irreplaceable moments that define the celebrations. 'Durga Puja is very personal to me because it reminds me of home, family and all the little things that make the festival special. There is a different kind of happiness during Puja. The entire atmosphere feels so positive and festive, and I think that feeling is difficult to explain unless you have grown up experiencing it,' she said.
Childhood Memories That Still Bring a Smile
Looking back at her growing-up years in Kolkata, Roy recalled the unmatched excitement that accompanied each Puja season — from dressing up in new clothes to going pandal-hopping with family. 'As a child, the excitement was on another level. Wearing new clothes, going to the Puja, meeting relatives and friends, eating good food and just being out for the celebrations made those days so special. Even today, those memories instantly bring a smile to my face,' she added.
Her recollections reflect a sentiment shared by millions of Bengali households across India, for whom Durga Puja is both a cultural touchstone and a time of homecoming — particularly poignant for those who, like Roy, have moved away from their native city for work.
Sarees and Pandal Visits: Her Ideal Puja Day
When it comes to the aesthetics of the festival, Roy said a traditional saree is always her preferred choice during Puja. 'I love wearing sarees during Durga Puja. There is something so beautiful and timeless about dressing traditionally during the festival. If I had no work commitments, my ideal Puja day would simply be getting ready in a beautiful saree, visiting pandals, eating my favourite food and spending the entire day with my loved ones,' she concluded.
From National-Level Sprinter to Television Star
Adrija Roy was born and raised in Kolkata in a Bengali family. Before stepping into acting, she represented West Bengal as a national-level sprinter — a detail that underlines a competitive drive that has clearly carried over to her entertainment career. She later relocated to Mumbai to pursue acting professionally. She currently appears in 'Anupamaa', the long-running Hindi television serial that features Rupali Ganguli in the lead role.
Point of View
But Roy's account stands out because it is rooted in a specific biography — a girl from Kolkata who competed on the national athletics track before landing on primetime television. That arc gives her nostalgia a credibility that most such interviews lack. What the story quietly surfaces is the quiet homesickness of thousands of Bengalis who have migrated to Mumbai for opportunity, for whom the Puja season is a bittersweet reminder of what the city they left behind still holds.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Adrija Roy and what is she known for?
Adrija Roy is a television actress best known for playing Raahi in the Hindi serial 'Anupamaa', which stars Rupali Ganguli in the lead role. Before entering acting, she was a national-level sprinter representing West Bengal.
What did Adrija Roy say about Durga Puja?
She described Durga Puja as a deeply personal festival that reminds her of home, family, and the little things that make the celebrations special. She said the festive atmosphere carries a unique sense of happiness that is difficult to put into words unless one has grown up experiencing it.
Where is Adrija Roy originally from?
Adrija Roy was born and raised in Kolkata, West Bengal, in a Bengali family. She later moved to Mumbai to pursue her career in the entertainment industry.
What is Adrija Roy's ideal way to celebrate Durga Puja?
Roy said she loves wearing a saree during Durga Puja and considers it timeless and beautiful. Her ideal Puja day would involve getting dressed traditionally, visiting pandals, eating her favourite food, and spending the entire day with loved ones.
