Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela.
Credit: Instagram/@upasanakaminenikonidela
Upasana Kamineni Konidela, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and the wife of actor Ram Charan, recently sparked a controversy with her address to students at IIT Hyderabad. During her speech, she advised that “The biggest insurance for women is to save your eggs.”
Because then you can choose when to get married, when you want to have kids on your own terms, and when you are financially independent. Today, I stand on my own two feet, and I earn a living for myself.” Her statements received mixed responses from netizens. While some users were convinced by her advice, many medical professionals and social media users criticised the advice, saying that egg freezing is generally for those who are financially sound.
After stirring a strong debate, Upasana finally reacted to the controversy and said that it is her right – not a privilege – to make choices about her life’s timeline. Taking to her social media accounts, Upasana issued a detailed statement.
"I'm happy to have sparked a healthy debate & thank you for your respectful responses. Stay tuned as I voice my opinions on the pleasures/pressures of privilege - that u all have been talking about," she wrote. Urging people to read her full statement to understand the facts about her career and marriage. She raised a series of questions about the societal expectations placed on women, writing, “Is it wrong for a woman to marry for love instead of giving in to societal pressure? Is it wrong for her to wait until she finds the right partner? Is it wrong for a woman to choose when she wants to have children based on her own circumstances? Is it wrong for a woman to set her goals and focus on her career rather than only thinking of marriage or having children early?"
Upasana also addressed claims that she was 23 when she married actor Ram Charan. She wrote, "I married for love and companionship at 27 - a choice I made on my own terms. At 29, I decided to freeze my eggs for personal and health reasons. I welcomed my first child at 36 and am now expecting twins at 39. For me, marriage and career are not competing priorities - they are equally meaningful parts of a fulfilled life. But I decide the timeline! That's not privilege, it's my right!"
In 2011, Upasana and Ram Charan got engaged, and they married in 2012. Their first child, Klin Kaara, was born in 2023, and Upasana is currently expecting twins.