The rupee lost 27 paise to 61.79 rupees against the US dollar in early trade today on the Interbank Foreign Exchange due to appreciation of the Greenback against other overseas currencies. Increased demand for the dollar from importers and banks also put pressure on the local currency. Dealers attributed the fall in rupee to gains made by US dollar against the euro and other overseas currencies ahead of US jobs data and a lower opening in the domestic equity market. Meanwhile, the BSE benchmark Sensex fell 31.74 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 20,862.15 in early trade today.