[5][6] Ghose, who was one of eight siblings, was born as Chapala Nayak on 28 March 1933 in Manasinghpatana, Cuttack district, Odisha, British India.

[10] Ghose began her career as a child voice actor on All India Radio before transitioning to on-screen film roles.

Her big break came in the 1953 film Amari Gaan Jhua (Our Village Girl), where she was cast as the female lead actress.

Amari Gaan Jhua, which explored the controversial practice of child marriage, won her positive reviews.

[22][23] Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa, paid tribute to Parbati Ghose and her contributions to the local and national film industry, noting that "She was an actor, director and producer at the same time.