Esha Verma, daughter of filmmaker Ashwin Verma and stepdaughter of television actress Rupali Ganguly, recently took to Instagram to share an emotional message detailing her troubled relationship with her father and stepmother. In a heartfelt video, Esha opened up about her painful experiences growing up, alleging that both Ashwin and Rupali mistreated her, abandoned her, and picked on her insecurities, all of which has left lasting scars on her mental health.
“They Chose to Hurt Me”
Esha, 26, expressed feeling ignored and abandoned by her father and stepmother, stating that her father, Ashwin Verma, failed to protect her during her formative years. In her video, she accused both Ashwin and Rupali of never offering an apology—either in private or in public. Esha remarked, “I may be 26 now, but the pain and memories, they still stick… I stood up against my bullies. My true bullies in my life… They chose to abandon me, criticise me, and pick on my insecurities so I wouldn’t feel good about myself.” She also recalled how her father “mocked mental health,” adding that his actions left her without the support she needed.
Criticism Toward Rupali Ganguly’s Public Image
Esha did not shy away from directly criticizing her stepmother, Rupali, whom she accused of “building her character and career off of lies and hurting someone else.” She reflected on how her painful memories resurface when she sees Rupali in the media, saying that the public persona clashes with the private experiences she endured. “The wounds that you have healed open up again, especially when you have to see them in the media,” Esha said. She conveyed her disappointment in what she described as her family’s refusal to acknowledge the harm she says they caused.
Apology to Younger Sibling Rudransh
Esha also shared a message for her younger half-brother, Rudransh, expressing her love for him and apologizing for any hurt her video may have caused. She conveyed her hopes that her father would be a better parent to Rudransh than he was to her. “I apologise if it hurt anyone in the process… I hope papa is being the dad for you that he couldn’t be for me and our sister,” she said, emphasizing the different experiences each sibling had with their father.
A Message to Her Father
In the video, Esha addressed her father directly, recounting moments when she felt shut down by him. She also shared her regret that they do not even have a family photo with her half-siblings, a fact she feels her father neglected. She expressed a lingering sense of abandonment and shared that she once idolized him, aspiring to follow in his footsteps as a filmmaker. “I thought I was your little girl. Growing up, I told everyone that I want to be just like him when I grow up, a filmmaker. You never encouraged that either,” Esha said.
No Call for Public Outrage
In concluding her message, Esha clarified that her intention was not to incite a negative reaction against her family members. Instead, she aimed to share her personal story, hoping for a sense of closure. She stated, “I’m not encouraging anybody to pick sides… It was just me speaking up for me and my own story.”
The video has sparked conversations about family dynamics, mental health, and the challenges of navigating complex relationships. Neither Rupali Ganguly nor Ashwin Verma has publicly responded to Esha’s statements, but the video continues to gain traction and attention online, raising awareness about the long-lasting impact of family trauma.
Sources By Agencies
