Actor and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan and his wife Anna Lezhneva have announced their separation after 13 years of marriage. In a joint statement issued on Monday night, the actor-politician and his wife said they had decided to part ways with mutual understanding and respect.
The announcement brings back Pawan's 2023 conversation with actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, during which he spoke candidly about his three marriages and the public scrutiny surrounding his personal life.During his 2023 appearance on Balakrishna's chat show Unstoppable with NBK, Pawan revealed that he had once wanted to remain a bachelor and follow the path of yoga."I wanted to remain a bachelor and go the yoga way. When I look at my life from that point, I feel, is it really me?
Did these things happen to me? I never planned anything," he said.Speaking about his first marriage, which was arranged by his family, Pawan said, "My first marriage was very conventional.
It was arranged by the elders. But not everything works out in a relationship.
So, couples separate." He married Nandini in 1997, and they separated in 1999. His second marriage was to actor Renu Desai, his long-time partner.
They married in 2009 and parted ways in 2012."Though our marriage has come to an end, we remain good friends and devoted parents to our wonderful children. Their happiness and well-being will always be our shared priority (sic)," the separation statement read.Anna, a Russian citizen, has largely stayed away from the public eye.
The couple married in 2013 and have a son together. Pawan has also adopted Anna's daughter from a previous relationship.
See the statement here:Pawan on public scrutiny over his three marriagesAddressing the repeated discussion around his marital history, Pawan said people often overlooked the circumstances behind his relationships."People keep harping on three weddings. I didn't marry all three at the same time, nor did I live with all three together.
It didn't work out for me with one person, so I had to marry another. It didn't happen out of desire or infatuation; it just happened.
It only involves pain," he said during his appearance on the show.He also maintained that he felt no guilt over his past relationships, adding, "I carry no guilt within me. What I feel is maybe because I am known to the public, my life is exposed to many."Renu Desai recently spoke about public judgementPawan's separation announcement comes days after Renu spoke about the scrutiny she continues to face over their divorce.
During an appearance on the Vishal Talks podcast, she said people still viewed her through the lens of her past relationship."For Telugu people, here's something about my life. I was born only in June 1999, when I came for Badri.
Before that, I didn't really have a life. That's how people treat it," she said.She also compared the years of public judgement to an extended exile, asking, "It's been 14 years.
Even Lord Ram was in exile, but only for 14 years. When will my exile end?"Pawan and Renu have two children together, son Akira and daughter Aadhya.
Pawan and Anna's statement reiterated that their children's happiness and well-being would remain their shared priority.- Ends