Aparna Sen, formerly known as Aparna Dasgupta, is a prominent Indian film director, screenwriter, and actress known for her significant contributions to Bengali cinema. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and accolades for her work as both an actress and filmmaker, including nine National Film Awards, five Filmfare Awards, and thirteen Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards.

Born on October 25, 1945, in Kolkata, Sen hails from a Bengali Baidya family with roots in Cox's Bazar, Chittagong District (now in Bangladesh). Her father, Chidananda Dasgupta, was a renowned critic and filmmaker. Her mother, Supriya Dasgupta, was a costume designer who won the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for the film "Amodini" (1995) at the age of 73. Sen is also a cousin of the well-known Bengali poet Jibanananda Das. She spent her childhood in Hazaribagh and Kolkata, and attended Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata. Although she studied English at Presidency College, she did not complete her degree.

Sen's journey in the entertainment industry began at the age of fifteen when she was photographed by Brian Brake for his renowned "Monsoon" series, and her photograph appeared on the cover of Life magazine. She made her film debut at sixteen in Satyajit Ray's "Teen Kanya" (Three Daughters) (1961), in which she played the role of Mrinmoyee in the segment titled "Samapti." She went on to collaborate with Ray in several other films, including "Jana Aranya" and "Pikoo."

In 1965, Sen acted in Mrinal Sen's film "Akash Kusum," portraying the character of Monica. She became an integral part of the Bengali film industry and played lead roles in popular films such as "Basanta Bilap" (1973) and "Memsaheb" (1972), among others. Sen also appeared in Hindi films like "Imaan Dharam" (1977), "Ek Din Achanak" (1989), and "Ghaath" (2000).

In 2009, Sen starred alongside Sharmila Tagore and Rahul Bose in Annirudh Roy-Chowdhary's Bengali film "Antaheen," which won four National Film Awards. In 2019, she acted in prominent Bengali films like "Bohomaan" and "Basu Poribar."

Aparna Sen's versatile career in Bengali cinema as both an actress and director has left an indelible mark on the industry. Her talent, artistic vision, and contributions to the world of cinema have earned her a respected place among the leading figures in Indian cinema.