Samantha’s Divorce Turns into an Ongoing Saga

While marriages may or may not last for seven lifetimes, the divorce saga of Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya seems like an endless loop that refuses to fade away. Samantha had to address it on Koffee With Karan—thanks to the host’s knack for being a nosey Indian aunty—and the topic resurfaced again with the news of Chaitanya's rumoured engagement to Sobhita Dhulipala, trending all over social media. Now, the saga has even spilled into Telangana politics.

A new controversy erupted when Telangana's environment and forest minister, Konda Surekha, accused BRS working president KT Rama Rao of playing a role in the couple’s divorce. Surekha alleged that KTR had sought favours from Samantha, leading to the eventual breakdown of her marriage with Chaitanya.

Gossip is an unavoidable part of celebrity life, and public speculation over high-profile divorces is nothing new. The real issue arises when ministers—especially female politicians—make misogynistic comments, which only serve to reinforce the stigma surrounding divorce. Konda Surekha's comments may have been a move in dirty politics, but dragging Samantha into it was entirely uncalled for. In response, Samantha addressed the situation on her Instagram, writing, “To be a woman, to come out and work, to survive in a glamorous industry where women are often treated as props, to fall in love and to fall out of love, and to still stand up and fight... It takes a lot of courage and strength." Her words reflect the struggles faced by successful female celebrities who choose to end their marriages.

Fodder for Gossip

Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s wedding in 2017 was like a fairy tale, complete with both Hindu and Christian ceremonies. However, by early 2021, rumours of trouble in their relationship surfaced, and the two soon announced their divorce.

Though both issued a joint statement, insisting that the divorce was mutual and amicable, gossipmongers didn’t stay quiet. Speculations ranged from claims that Chaitanya’s father was displeased with Samantha’s bold scenes in The Family Man 2 (2021) to her item number Oo Antava in Pushpa: The Rise (2021).

When Samantha appeared on Koffee With Karan, she showcased her characteristic sass. Karan Johar brought up her separation, referring to Chaitanya as her "husband," only for Samantha to correct him with "ex-husband." While Johar tried to tread carefully, he couldn’t resist asking probing questions about their split, despite claiming he didn’t want to pry.

Samantha pointed out that Johar had already asked her about the divorce off-camera. When asked if there were any hard feelings between her and Chaitanya, she quipped that it would be wise to hide any sharp objects if they were ever in the same room, adding that while things weren’t friendly, she hoped to move on.