Classical dancer extraordinaire Dona Ganguly spills the tea on her nationally revered cricketer husband Sourav Ganguly, daughter Sana, and her love for dance.
By Sudeshna Chakravarty
Dona Ganguly is a celebrated Odissi dancer with a strong identity of her own. From the Konark Festival to the Jagannath Temple inauguration in Digha, it’s been a busy year of performances. On meeting her, what stands out is her humility and warmth. Dona is candid, grounded, and deeply inspiring — the quiet force behind her husband’s success and a woman of immense talent, grace, and unwavering dedication to her art.
Excerpts from the interview…
You performed at the inauguration of the muchtalked-about Jagannath Temple in Digha. How did it happen?

It was an honour to perform there at the temple and I thank Didi (Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal) for giving me the opportunity. Every year, I perform with my students at the Iskcon Rathyatra. After our performance, Didi performs the aarti and the Rathyatra begins. Didi has been seeing our performance there; that is why I guess I was asked to perform at the inauguration of the temple.
We have heard you are a very involved mother…
Yes, I was a very hands-on mother. I did everything for Sana — from waking her up and making breakfast to dropping her to school and picking her up. During her Class 11 and 12, I ensured she had lunch before tuition, often waiting nearby until she finished. She was my world. But like every butterfly that must fly, Sana eventually left for London to pursue her higher studies — a proud, emotional milestone for me as a mother.

It is said that you are seen more often in London these days than in Kolkata…
Whenever I miss Sana, I pack my bags and head to London. Once there, I slip back into full-time mom mode — making her tea, ensuring she eats well, and taking care of her daily needs. We cherish our time together — from watching plays to dining out. Watching ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ at the West End even made me dream of staging Indian dancedramas there someday. But Sana, fiercely independent, often urges me to return, reminding me of my responsibilities in Kolkata. My elderly parents and in-laws need care too, so I constantly juggle life between London and Kolkata.
Your family also has a thriving press, just like Sourav’s. Being the only daughter, why did you not take up the family business?

It’s well taken care of — there are capable people handling it. I’m not really involved in the day-to-day running of the business. Since childhood, I was always so drawn to dance that my father never really expected me to take an interest in it. Now, sometimes I do feel I should have gotten more involved, especially since I have more free time these days. But as long as the business is running smoothly and is in good hands, I’m content.
Did you and Sourav never consider encouraging Sana to carry forward his cricketing legacy? After all, women’s cricket is growing in popularity these days.

Sana absolutely loves cricket — she’s a big fan and watches the game with great enthusiasm. But she’s never really shown any interest in playing it herself. She enjoys watching cricket, but when it comes to sports, she’s more inclined towards football. In fact, whenever Sourav is in London, the two of them make it a point to watch all the Arsenal and other club matches together. They even went to watch the Euro Cup. So yes, sports is very much a part of her life — just not as a cricketer.
…What about dance then?
Oh, Sana is an excellent dancer — truly gifted. She’s been groomed well enough to perform professionally, if she chooses to. But that’s not the path she wants to take, and we’ve never believed in forcing her. Just because her father is a cricketer and her mother is a dancer doesn’t mean she has to follow in our footsteps. She should do what makes her happy — and I believe she is doing exactly that.

Does your school Diksha Manjari not suffer from your long absences when you are away in London?
I’m fortunate to have senior students who hold the fort while I’m away. Online classes have brought students from across India and the world — including the UK and USA. When I travel, I hold workshops to track their progress. What I value most is dedication. If a student is truly committed but unable to pay the fees, I quietly waive them. Dance is my passion, and teaching it is my way of passing on what I’ve learnt from my Guru. India’s rich cultural diversity is reflected in its arts — contributing to it, through Diksha Manjari, feels like a divine blessing.
How does hubby Sourav Ganguly react to your dance?
He’s very encouraging. At most events where I perform, he’s invited too. His only advice to me is, “Don’t overexert yourself.”
The late Lata Mangeshkar inaugurated Diksha Manjari. Did Sourav convince her to come?
I met Raj Singh Dungarpur and asked him if he could speak to Lataji about inaugurating my school. He was kind enough to connect me directly with her, and she agreed. I happened to meet Raj Singh at a cricketing event, and I think Lataji knew I was Sourav’s wife — perhaps that played a part in her agreeing. After all, why else would she come to inaugurate a dance school? Mr Bachchan (Amitabh Bachchan) came for the school’s 15th anniversary. Next year, we’ll be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Diksha Manjari — we’ll have to start thinking about whom to invite!

People often call you and Sourav the power couple of Bengal. How does that feel?
It’s very kind of people to say that, but we’re both very grounded. Honestly, we don’t think of ourselves that way. There’s a lot of buzz around the biopic on Sourav. There’s even a rumour that Tripti Dimri might play you. Is that true? We’re all looking forward to the biopic! But no, we have no idea who’s playing our roles yet — that decision lies with the director. What happened was, a reporter once asked Sana whom she would like to see in my role, and she mentioned Tripti Dimri. But nothing is confirmed.
Would you like to meet the actor who ends up playing you?
I think they’ll probably want to meet us. But more than me, I’m sure the actor playing Sourav will definitely spend time with him — to observe his mannerisms, the way he talks and walks, that sort of thing. That’s usually part of the process.
After retiring from cricket, Sourav has also become a successful television anchor. His show ‘Dadagiri’ was a huge hit. How did you feel watching that side of him?
I remember being on the show once myself. It was lovely. Now he’s doing another show on Star — the format will be a little different.
Do you both get time to enjoy some peaceful, personal moments together?
Whenever we can, we go for walks at Tolly (Tollygunge Club). If he’s in town, we start our mornings with tea and a long chat. Once or twice a month, we go out for lunch or dinner — just the two of us. Sourav’s and my relationship has evolved over time; it’s changed for the better. We understand each other much more deeply now — maturity does that.
What would you say is the secret to a successful marriage?

There’s no single formula, really. I’d say it takes patience, consideration, and the ability to think things through instead of reacting impulsively. That makes all the difference.
When you look back at your life, do you have any regrets?
Honestly, no. If I had to live it all over again, I’d choose to live it the same way. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved, and I don’t regret what I didn’t. Life, as it is, feels perfect.