Satabdi Roy

Satabdi Roy (born 5 October 1969) is an Indian actress, film director, and politician. As an actress, she is known for her work in Bengali cinema. She is a recipient of two BFJA Awards. As a director, she has been denounced critically for her use of superfluous themes. She is a All India Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha since 2009.

Roy made her film debut opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee in Tapan Sinha's much acclaimed Bengali film Atanka (1986), which won her the BFJA Awards for the Best Supporting Actress in 1987. She shot to stardom after she had been paired with Tapas Paul in films such as Amar Bandhan (1986), Guru Dakshina (1987), Antaranga (1988), Apan Amar Apan (1990) and Abishkar (1990) to name a few. Her major hits with Prosenjit Chatterjee include Alingan (1990), Shraddhanjali (1993), Lathi (1996), Sakhi Tumi Kar (1996), Chandragrahan (1997), Ranokhetro (1998), Sajani Aamar Sohag (2000) and Trishul (2000) to name few. She made her Bollywood debut in National Award winning director Jyoti Sarup's Naya Zaher (1991). She collaborated with Tapan Sinha for the second time in his Antardhan (1992). She was conferred with the BFJA Awards for the Best Supporting Actress for the second time in 2005, for her performance in Raja Sen's Debipaksha. During her heyday, she was often compared to her contemporaries, such as Debashree Roy and Rituparna Sengupta. She made her directorial debut with Abhinetri (2006), which was an unequivocal reflection of the life and career of Bengali matinee idol Suchitra Sen. The film turned out to be a commercial as well as critical failure.

Early life She was born in Agarpara to Shailen and Nilima Roy. Satabdi Roy passed her Madhyamik from Sorojini High School in 1986 and later attended Jogamaya Devi College, a women's college affiliated to the University of Calcutta.

Acting career Debut and breakthrough (1986–1989)

Roy made her film debut opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee in Tapan Sinha's much acclaimed Bengali film Atanka (1986), which earned her the BFJA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting role in 1987.

In 1987, she had five releases including Hiren Nag's Pratibha, Prabhat Roy's Pratikar, Anjan Mukhopadhyay's Nyay Adhikar, Biresh Chatterjee's Ekanta Apan and Anjan Choudhry's Guru Dakshina, which became a massive grosser at box office. She was paired with Tapas Paul in this film. She was soon pitted against Debashree Roy.

She reprised her chemistry with Paul in Dinen Gupta's Antaranga (1988) and Tarun Majumdar's Parashmani (1988). Both the films became massive grossers at box office.

She featured opposite Tapas Paul in Angar (1989) that became a major financial success.

Prime success (1990–2001)

The year 1990 saw Roy emerging out as a bankable film star with her two back-to-back commercial successes Apan Amar Apan by Tarun Majumdar and Abishkar by Salil Dutta. In both the films, she played the role of an aspiring singer, but was noted more for her role in Abishkar, where she essayed a singer who set out in a quest of her kidnapped sister-in-law. She was also noted for her role in Tapan Saha's Alingan (1990). She went on to convey hits such as Nandan Dasgupta's Prem Pujari (1991), Deb Singha's Adhikar (1992), Guru Bagchi's Pennam Kolkata (1992), Prashanta Nanda's Ghar Sansar (1993), Lal Pan Bibi (1994), Srikanta Guhathakurta's Shraddhanjali (1993), Chiranjeet Chakraborty's Sansar Sangram (1995), Swapan Saha's Sakhi Tumi Kar (1996) and Anjan Banerjee's Chandragrahan (1997) to name a few. She made her Bollywood debut in National Award winning director Jyoti Sarup's Naya Zaher (1991).

In 1992, Roy was approached to play the role of Sathi in Sreekanta Guha Thakurta's love-triangle film Shraddhanjali (1993). Initially she was hesitant to accept the role as she was required to share the screen with Debashree Roy. Still she managed to feature opposite Chatterjee in commercially successful Bengali films such as Lathi (1996), Sakhi Tumi Kar (1996), Bakul Priya (1997), Bidroho (1997), Chandragrahan (1997), Ranokhetro (1998), Swamir Aadesh (1998), Kalankini Badhu (2000), Sajoni Aamar Sohag (2000), Shapath Nilam (2000) and Trishul (2000).

Setback (2003–2013) Her post-marital career was not successful. Swapan Saha cast her alongside Tapas Pal, Abhishek Chatterjee and Rituparna Sengupta in his family drama Sukh Dukkher Sansar (2003). The film was financial success. She then accepted the role of an embittered widow in Raja Sen's social drama Debipaksha (2004). Teesta was staged for the first time in January 2016. It was directed by Shekhar Samaddar and staged by Aabhash theatre group.

On 23 April 2016 Roy at the conference of the film Bizli (2018), declared that she would portray the antagonist Dr. Jerina in the film. Initially she was reluctant to play the role but finally gave her nod on Bobby's insistence.

She portrays an advocate in her upcoming Hindi film The Jangipur Trial.

Career as a filmmaker In 2011, a member of Indian censor board informed the chief minister Mamata Banerjee that Maya Mukherjee, the protagonist in the film Paribartan directed by Roy was modelled on the chief minister. The film was later released in 2017.

Roy cast Rituparna Sengupta opposite Tapas Paul in her directorial venture Om Shanti (2012). When interrogated whether the professional rivalry of the actresses duo would affect the shooting, Roy declined any such rivalry. She rather presumed that their collaboration would appeal the viewers. She also cast Rakhi Sawant for an item number in the film. Sengupta skipped the premier show of the film as she felt that Sawant had been given preference to herself in the poster of the film while Roy said that Sengupta's grievance was baseless. The film received negative review. It was a major financial disaster.

Political career She became the Member of Parliament, having won in the Lok Sabha election on a Trinamool Congress ticket from the Birbhum constituency of West Bengal in 2009. She again won from the same constituency on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2014, 2019 and 2024. On 2025 she was announced deputy leader of her party in the Lok Sabha.

2026 Rebellion

In June 2026, almost immediately after the massive Trinamool Congress defeat, around 20 MPs of TMC including Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha, Bapi Halder, Mala Roy, Mitali Bag, Deepak Adhikari, Arup Chakraborty, Sharmila Sarkar, Satabdi Roy, Rachna Banerjee, Prasun Banerjee and others, allegedly declared rebellion from their Party, and presented their written wish to join Bhartiya Janata Party. This group was led by Kakoli Ghosh.

Later, on 14 June, 20 MPs, including Satabdi Roy, signed a formal letter declaring their split from Trinamool Congress as to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). They formally submitted the letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The total strength of TMC in Lok Sabha had been 28, so that a number of 20 MPS made it eligible for splitting from the Party, as per the Indian Defection laws, so as to escape the anti-defection disqualification.

Personal life When not working on a shoot, Roy would teach acting at the Satabdi Foundation or spend time with her son Samyoraj Banerjee (Tozo), daughter Samiyana Banerjee (Zumi) and husband Mrigank Banerjee, Executive manager of Satabdi Roy Foundation. Amar Bandhan Bouma

Ekanta Apan Gurudakshina Rupa Roy Nyay Adhikar Pratibha Pratikaar Sandhya Banerjee

Aghat Agni Sanket Antaranga Chhannachhara Dena Paona Maa Ek Mandir Parashmoni Punar Milan Shudhu Tomari

Amar Shapath Agni Trishna Amanat Angar Biday Bondini Judge Saheb Mahapith Tarapith Mangal Deep Maryada Mone Mone Manimala Shatrupaksha Srimati Hangsaraj

Abhimanyu Abishkar Alingan Anuraag Apan Aamar Apan Bhanga-Gara Chetana Gharer Bou Jwar Bhata Kalanka Omar Akbar Raktareen

Amar Saathi Bidhir Bidhan Maan Maryada Prem Pujari

Adhikar Antardhan Ina Dharma-Yuddha Maa Manikanchan Natun Sansar Pennam Calcutta Shaitan

Arjun Ghar Sansar Kanyadan Maan Samman Prajapati Sikha Prathama Premi Shakti Shraddhanjali Sathi Sukher Swarga

Ajana Path Bidrohini Kalpurush Laal Paan Bibi Nagjyoti Phiriye Dao Antara Tumi Je Aamar Soma

Abirbhab Boumoni Mashal Pratidhwani Sansar Sangram Shesh Pratiksha Sukher Asha

East Bengaler Chele Kumari Maa Rita Jamaibabu Joy Bijoy Lathi Lipi Mukherjee, Atindramohan's daughter Sakhi Tumi Kar Tridhara

Abhishapta Prem Ajker Santan Bahurupa Bakul Priya Priya Bidroho Chandragrahan Mayar Badhon Krishna Pratirodh Sarbajaya

Aparajita Asal Nakal Jiban Trishna Kamalar Banabas Putrabadhu Monika Raja Rani Badsha Ranokhetro Jhuma Bose Shimul Parul Sreeman 420 Swamir Aadesh

Gariber Raja Robinhood Gunda Jugbatar Loknath Krishna Kaberi

Dabee Didi Aamar Maa Kalankini Badhu Pita Swarga Pita Dharma Rupasi Dohai Tomar Sajoni Aamar Sohag Rani Chowdhury Satruta Shapath Nilam Trishul

Aami Jibonpurer Pathik Bhalobasa Ki Aage Bujhini Bidhatar Khela Cancer Etai Swarga Janak Janani Nadir Pare Aamar Bari Shesh Bichar Srimoti Bhayonkari

Chor O Bhagoban Debipuja Jua Sukh Dukkher Sansar 2004 Debipaksha Rebati Bhattacharya

Dwiragaman Nishachar 2006 Abhinetri This marked the directorial debut of Roy, who also wrote the story and screenplay, in addition to acting in it

Biyer Lagna Shibaji Tolly Lights Special appearance

Dhakee Roy directed the film and also wrote its story and screenplay, in addition to acting in it Friend Brishti Roy directed the film and also wrote its story and screenplay, in addition to acting in it

Bejanma Goodly Megh Brishti Aalo Friend Request

Bhoy Fight 1:1 Lorai

Om Shanti Roy directed the film, in addition to playing a cameo in it Ullas Sumitra

Aleyar Alo Swabhoomi Sweet Heart 2017 Paribartan Roy directed the film and also wrote its story and screenplay, in addition to acting in it 2025 Batshorik Swapna Hindi films

Odia films

Other works Stage adaptations TitleDirectorNoteAndhakaar O RabindraramaniTeestaShekhar Samaddar

Reality show YearTitleRoleNoteSatabdir AddayHost

Literary works

Awards