Debut and breakthrough (1986–1989)

Roy made her film debut opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee in Tapan Sinha's much acclaimed Bengali film Atanka (1986), which earned her the BFJA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting role in 1987.^[1] Earlier, she had worked in a film called Tina, directed by Dinen Gupta, but it was never released. She rose to stardom after she acted opposite Tapas Paul in Tapan Saha's Amar Bandhan (1986).^[11]

In 1987, she had five releases including Hiren Nag's Pratibha, Prabhat Roy's Pratikar, Anjan Mukhopadhyay's Nyay Adhikar, Biresh Chatterjee's Ekanta Apan and Anjan Choudhry's Guru Dakshina, which became a massive grosser at box office. She was paired with Tapas Paul in this film. She was soon pitted against Debashree Roy.^[12]

She reprised her chemistry with Paul in Dinen Gupta's Antaranga (1988) and Tarun Majumdar's Parashmani (1988). Both the films became massive grossers at box office.

She featured opposite Tapas Paul in Angar (1989) that became a major financial success.^[13]

Prime success (1990–2001)

The year 1990 saw Roy emerging out as a bankable film star with her two back-to-back commercial successes Apan Amar Apan by Tarun Majumdar and Abishkar by Salil Dutta. In both the films, she played the role of an aspiring singer, but was noted more for her role in Abishkar, where she essayed a singer who set out in a quest of her kidnapped sister-in-law. She was also noted for her role in Tapan Saha's Alingan (1990). She went on to convey hits such as Nandan Dasgupta's Prem Pujari (1991), Deb Singha's Adhikar (1992), Guru Bagchi's Pennam Kolkata (1992), Prashanta Nanda's Ghar Sansar (1993), Lal Pan Bibi (1994), Srikanta Guhathakurta's Shraddhanjali (1993), Chiranjeet Chakraborty's Sansar Sangram (1995), Swapan Saha's Sakhi Tumi Kar (1996) and Anjan Banerjee's Chandragrahan (1997) to name a few. She made her Bollywood debut in National Award winning director Jyoti Sarup's Naya Zaher (1991).^[14][15]

In 1992, Roy was approached to play the role of Sathi in Sreekanta Guha Thakurta's love-triangle film Shraddhanjali (1993).^[16] Initially she was hesitant to accept the role as she was required to share the screen with Debashree Roy.^[12] Prosenjit Chatterjee who played Amit in the film, mediated in this regard stating that he would tackle both the actresses. The plot revolves around three characters – Amit, Sathi and Bobby. Bobby falls in love with Amit who is already betrothed to Sathi.

She hit the pinnacle of her professional rivalry with Rituparna Sengupta in the late 1990s since the two were offered most of the female leads opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee after Debashree Roy vowed not to work with Chatterjee any longer.^[17] Still she managed to feature opposite Chatterjee in commercially successful Bengali films such as Lathi (1996), Sakhi Tumi Kar (1996), Bakul Priya (1997), Bidroho (1997), Chandragrahan (1997), Ranokhetro (1998), Swamir Aadesh (1998), Kalankini Badhu (2000), Sajoni Aamar Sohag (2000), Shapath Nilam (2000) and Trishul (2000).^[18]

Setback (2003–2013)

Her post-marital career was not successful. Swapan Saha cast her alongside Tapas Pal, Abhishek Chatterjee and Rituparna Sengupta in his family drama Sukh Dukkher Sansar (2003).^{[citation needed]} The film was financial success.^[19] She then accepted the role of an embittered widow in Raja Sen's social drama Debipaksha (2004).^[20] Though a disaster at box office, the film fetched her another BFJA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting role in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Further roles (2016–2018)

She was approached to play the lead in Teesta, a stage adaptation of Bratya Basu's play Mukhomukhi Bosibar.^[21] Teesta was staged for the first time in January 2016. It was directed by Shekhar Samaddar and staged by Aabhash theatre group.^[22]

On 23 April 2016 Roy at the conference of the film Bizli (2018), declared that she would portray the antagonist Dr. Jerina in the film.^[23][24] Initially she was reluctant to play the role but finally gave her nod on Bobby's insistence.^[23] Her performance in the film was received well by critics.^[25]

She portrays an advocate in her upcoming Hindi film The Jangipur Trial.^[26]

2026 Rebellion

In June 2026, almost immediately after the massive Trinamool Congress defeat, around 20 MPs of TMC including Yusuf Pathan, Saayoni Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha, Bapi Halder, Mala Roy, Mitali Bag, Deepak Adhikari, Arup Chakraborty, Sharmila Sarkar, Satabdi Roy, Rachna Banerjee, Prasun Banerjee and others, allegedly declared rebellion from their Party, and presented their written wish to join Bhartiya Janata Party. This group was led by Kakoli Ghosh. ^{[35] [36]}

Later, on 14 June, 20 MPs, including Satabdi Roy, signed a formal letter declaring their split from Trinamool Congress as to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). They formally submitted the letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. ^{[37] [38]}

The total strength of TMC in Lok Sabha had been 28, so that a number of 20 MPS made it eligible for splitting from the Party, as per the Indian Defection laws, so as to escape the anti-defection disqualification. ^[39]

Bengali films

Hindi films

Odia films

Stage adaptations

Reality show

Literary works