Rupali Barua has quietly etch a distinct and powerful image in the country’s fashion savant and the entrepreneurial milieu. She is a woman of class, with a sensuous and sophisticated fashion sense turned up with an eye for handcrafted traditional textiles and a simultaneous responsibility towards traditional artisans. Rupali has transformed from a brimming young girl with big dreams into a respected fashion entrepreneur that sheds light on India’s prolific handloom heritage. Her pursuit is not only her business acumen, but her curiosity, steadfastness, evolution from nothing, and the conviction of having the handloom and smartly induced craftsmen that weave magic into the heart of the country’s textile story.
From the beginning, the most significant milestones in Rupali Barua’s life to establishing herself and channels as a force in the business industry, the piece takes a comprehensive look into Rupali Barua’s lifestyle. Whether you are deliberating her often representations in the business world and elsewhere, or just have an interest in India’s textile story, the story paints an in-depth, human, meaningful, and reality image of who she is.
Quick Bio: Rupali Barua
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rupali Barua |
| Date of Birth | 21 April 1973 |
| Age (as of 2025) | ~52 years |
| Birthplace | Guwahati, Assam, India |
| Nationality | Indian (and reportedly British citizenship status) |
| Profession | Fashion entrepreneur, businesswoman, hand-loom store founder |
| Known For | Boutique “NAMEG” (Kolkata), Café “Na-Ru-Meg”, marriage to actor Ashish Vidyarthi |
| Social Media | @rupalibaruaofficial (~29 K followers) |
Who Is Rupali Barua?
Rupali Barua was born and raised in Assam and later found her luck in fashion and hand-loom, relatively underrepresented industries that are significant to Indian culture. She is most prominent as the creator of the Kolkata-based boutique NAMEG, which fosters indigenous weavers and hand-craft traditions. However, it was this May when she got married to prominent actor Ashish Vidyarthi, and her name became widely disclosed to the public.
Unlike our usual celebrities born into fame stories, her life was less of an unrolled fashion rug and more of a solid craft-centered business. Her age is mostly cited in the context of her marriage. However, our Rupali Barua is remarkable on its own, standing on two feet as a successful entrepreneur and wife.
Rupali Barua Age: How Old Is She?
Rupali Barua is 54 years old in 2025 – born 21 April 1973. She Handles her business, fashion curation, and public presence with style.
Rupali’s case is not singular she is part of a milieu of entrepreneurs that moved from the traditional to the modern business. Her age allows her to confidently straddle the worlds of legacy hand-loom crafts and current fashion trends.
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Rupali Barua Net Worth
Net Worth & Financial Standing
What Determines Her Wealth?
Rupali Barua’s net worth is estimated in various sources; though exact numbers vary, they place her inside the multi-crore range in Indian rupees. One estimate puts her net worth around ₹8 crore.
Key Financial Points:
- Primary income source: her boutique “NAMEG” (hand-loom focus) in Kolkata.
- Secondary income sources: Café venture “Na-Ru-Meg” and prior UK venture “Reel and Weave”.
- Business costs: Running a boutique, sourcing artisan goods, maintaining retail space – typical overheads for such ventures.
- Growth potential: Handloom and handcrafted market in India is receiving interest; thus her positioning is favourable.
- Note: Estimates are not official – actual wealth may vary.
In sum, though not the richest business persons in India, Rupali Barua’s venture is on a solid footing, reflecting business ability and cultural vision.
Early Life and Background
Rupali Barua’s early life began in Guwahati, Assam. She grew up in a family rooted to the North-East of India, which meant she was surrounded by traditional crafts of the region.
Background Points:
- Schooling: St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Guwahati.
- Family: she has a sister named Meghali Barua according to some sources, who works in Kolkata’s health sector.
- Early influences: surrounded by the Assam hand-loom culture, makes her decision later in career.
- International exposure: spent time in UK , in Birmingham, where she helped co-found a clothing business.
Her background shows a mixture of regional origin, academic history , and exposure beyond India; indicating how different strands came together to form her firm.
Read Also:- Apoorva Mukhija | Nitish Bhaluni | Divya Shasha
Education and Career
Education
- Rupali Barua has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Anthropology:
- BA in Anthropology: Cotton University, Guwahati.
- MA in Anthropology: Gauhati University.
She has a social sciences background; this informs her views on culture, communities, and craft traditions, and feeds into her model. Rupali’s business is truly informed by what she studied for years and got a degree in.
Career
Her career can be broken down into phases:
Phase 1 – UK venture
In 2010 she set up Rupali Barua the UK. This was a Clothing Retail venture, called Reel and Weave, set up in Birmingham. This was later closed down, possibly in 2016. There was probably an event that brought her back to India.
Phase 2 – Return to India & HANDLOOM Enterprise
- Returned to India to Kolkata. Later relocated to Bangalore, setting up a store in Bangalore.
- Started an Indian Handloom store in Kolkata, called NAMEG.
- This is a three storeyed building in Southern Avenue, a high end boutique and cafe.
- Hand-loom business had started via another company.
Phase 3 – Expansion & diversification
- She also owns a cafe, Na-Ru-Meg, with a friend; she was running both operations in parallel.
- Her boutique spreads over three floors. She describes NAMEG a s a lower ground floor section, showcasing both hand-woven and our own designs.
- Her business stands at a nexus of heritage craft + modern retail, which gives her a unique positioning.
Career Highlights
- Founded a UK-based clothing venture in 2010, called following her name, Rupali Barua.
- Opened NAMEG boutique in Kolkata for hand-loom, and indigenous fabrics.
- Also diversified into cafe business and lfestyle retail.
- Married to actor Ashish Vidyarthi, for whom she is the second wife. He is the main reason she is in the public space, but the business appears to be the absolute core.
Overall, her career progression is stable: education, international exposure, followed by a strong cultural roots business in India.
Read Also:- Vicky Kaushal Career | Madhumalti Kapoor Career | Pan Singh Dhoni Career
Awards
There are no consumer or trade fashion awards listed online for Rupali Barua, and it is not clear if she possesses any such honors. However, the entrepreneur has several noteworthy achievements:
- Developed a successful hand-loom boutique in a metro (Kolkata) selling traditional regional craft.
- Supported artisans and craftspeople by using and promoting only natural hand-woven fabrics in her products.
- Built a known brand that mixes business with culture through her efforts and public image, in particular the wedding.
- Gained media coverage for her marriage and career, which has added to the broader narrative of women entrepreneurs from the North-East in India
These are effectively social rather than fully commercial accomplishments, but they are nevertheless relatively significant.
Social Media Presence
Before presenting the table, it is worth noting that while many celebrities have massive followings, Rupali Barua keeps a more modest but engaged presence, consistent with her focus on craft and authenticity.
| Platform | Handle | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @rupalibaruaofficial | ~29,000 | |
| @rupalibarua | ~3,200 |
Her social media strategy is selective rather than prolific, reflecting a business-first, not show-first, mindset.
Rupali Barua Marriage to Actor Ashish Vidyarthi
Rupali Barua hit the news after marrying celebrated Indian actor Ashish Vidyarthi. The couple tied the knot in Kolkata, where they had a private wedding ceremony with close friends and family. What with the couple being a few decades apart in age, this attracted some public interest, however both have been candid to say that love, compassion and emotional maturity counts for far more. For both Rupali and Ashish, this wedding represents a new life of significance. With their marriage new found fame for Rupali once again started to buzz as her personal and professional life was put under a scanner.
Additional Insights & Lesser-Known Facts
- She comes from Assam and displays her roots through occasional aesthetic choices in her fashion line, such as Assamese Mekhela Chador collaborations.
- Her business model emphasises “slow fashion” – hand-loom, handcrafted, ethical sourcing. This appeals to both conscious consumers and regional pride.
- Her public profile rose significantly in 2023 when she married actor Ashish Vidyarthi. This event brought her into mainstream media.
- Through her boutique, she provides a platform for regional weavers and artisans – an important function in preserving craft traditions.
- Despite public attention, she maintains a degree of privacy and modesty – demonstrating balance between business visibility and personal discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When did Rupali Barua get married to Ashish Vidyarthi?
They got married on 25 May 2023 in Kolkata.
What business does Rupali Barua run?
She runs the boutique “NAMEG” in Kolkata, which focuses on hand-woven and handcrafted fabrics and accessories. She is also co-owner of “Na-Ru-Meg” café.
What is Rupali Barua’s net worth?
Various estimates place her net worth around ₹8 crore (Indian rupees) as of recent years, but these are approximate.
What is her educational background?
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Cotton University, Guwahati, and a Master’s in Anthropology from Gauhati University.
How active is Rupali Barua on social media?
She has a modest presence compared to many celebrities. On Instagram she has around 29,000 followers under @rupalibaruaofficial, and another ~3,200 on @rupalibarua. Her approach is selective rather than high-volume.
Conclusion
Rupali Barua’s journey illustrates how regional roots, academic grounding, entrepreneurial spirit and cultural commitment can combine into a meaningful success story. Her focus on hand-loom, tradition and business savvy sets her apart in a world fixated on glitz. As she moves forward, her boutique “NAMEG” and related ventures are likely to grow, offering both style and substance.
If you’re interested in reading about other celebrities and their personal/business journeys, you can check out our article on Meidilite.
