Dona Ganguly, a renowned Indian Odissi dancer, is also famously known as the wife of Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian cricketer and BCCI president. This comprehensive biography explores her life, career, and achievements.
Wiki/Biography
Dona Ganguly was born on Sunday, August 22, 1976, in Behala, Kolkata. Currently 47 years old (as of 2023), her zodiac sign is Leo. She received her education at Loreto Convent School, Kolkata. Her journey into dance began at the tender age of 3 under the tutelage of Amala Shankar, a celebrated Indian danseuse. Further honing her skills, she trained in Odissi under the expert guidance of Guru Giridhari Nayek and subsequently, the influential Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. This mentorship proved pivotal, providing her with invaluable opportunities to refine her talent and showcase her exceptional abilities.
Physical Appearance
Here’s a glimpse into Dona Ganguly’s physical attributes:
- Height (approx.): 5’3″
- Hair Colour: Black
- Eye Colour: Black
Family, Caste & Husband
Dona hails from a Bengali family. She is the daughter of Sanjeev Roy (a businessman) and Swapna Roy, and the only child of her parents. She married her childhood sweetheart, Sourav Ganguly, on February 1, 1997. Their union has been blessed with a daughter, Sana Ganguly, born in 2001.
Career
Dona’s dance career flourished under the guidance of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She participated in numerous dance programs both nationally and internationally. Early in her career, she even assisted her guru with the Pakhavaj (a traditional Indian drum). Her 1992 performance at the India International Centre in Delhi garnered significant critical acclaim. The Hindu newspaper praised her “sculpturesque anga suddhi” and compared her to the renowned Sanjukta Panigrahi.
Her performances graced prestigious festivals across India, including the Dover Lane Music Conference and River Festival in Kolkata, Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal, the Beach Festival in Digha, and Haldia Utsov. She also performed internationally, notably at the 15th North American Bengali Conference in New York and the “India by the Nile” festival in Egypt. Beyond performance, Dona teaches dance at her own school, ‘Diksha Manjari,’ heads the Odissi department at Bharati Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata, and Techno India Schools, and holds an ‘A’ grade artist status with Doordarshan.
Awards
Dona’s talent has earned her significant recognition:
- In 1995, San Francisco’s mayor declared June 9th as “Dona Roy Day.”
- She received honorary citizenship from several American cities, including Nashville, Memphis, Los Angeles, Sunnyvale, and Pleasanton.
Favourite Things
Let’s take a look at some of Dona Ganguly’s preferences:
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | Thai |
| Actor | Shah Rukh Khan |
| Holiday Destination | London |
| Films | Jab We Met (2007), 3 Idiots (2009) |
| Singer | Kishore Kumar |
Facts
Here are some interesting facts about Dona Ganguly:
- Her hobbies include dancing and traveling.
- She follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- Kelucharan Mohapatra considered her his ideal student and even traveled to Kolkata to teach her.
- Her first date with Sourav was at a Kolkata Chinese restaurant, Mandarin, where Sourav famously ate a vast amount of food.
