Celebrity power couple split sparks rumours

FILM STARS SAMANTHA PRABHU AND NAGA CHAITANYA SHOCK FANS WITH DIVORCE

AFTER months of rumours, news stories and gossip, famous married film couple Samantha Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya announced that they were separating.

The Telugu film stars released the same statement, saying they had decided to part ways as husband and wife after much thought and deliberation to pursue their own paths. The statement also reads, “We are fortunate to have a friendship of over a decade that was the very core of our relationship which we believe will always hold a special bond between us. We request our fans, wellwishers and the media to support us during this difficult time and give us the privacy we need to move on”.

Speculation had started about their marriage being in trouble some months ago after Samantha went back to her maiden name on social media and was missing at family events. Both stars remained silent on the issue because according to well-placed sources they were trying to resolve whatever issue had broken them apart. One of the unconfirmed rumours was that Samantha was under pressure to quit acting, as her famous mother-in-law Amala Akkineni had done after marrying legendary actor Nagarjuna.

Although the couple has kept the reason for their divorce a secret, multiple sources have confirmed that Samantha has been left completely heartbroken by what has happened and is struggling to come to terms with the split.

The son of movie icon Nagarjuna, Chaitanya comes from a very famous and wealthy family, so there has been reports Samantha would get a multi-million-pound alimony settlement, but those close to the self-made superstar say she doesn’t want anything from her soon-to-be former husband. While she struggled emotionally, Chaitanya has not given anything away and kept silent.

The couple first met in 2010 when they worked together on Telugu language romantic drama Ye Maaya Chesave and formed a friendship. They reconnected in 2014 after working on the films Manam and Autonagar Surya. They were in a relationship soon after and got engaged in January 2017. The couple wed

later that year, with a Hindu religious ceremony on October 6 and a Christian one on October 7.

They soon became a power couple in Indian cinema and regularly shared adorable photos together on social media. They announced their separation on October 2, just days before their fourth wedding anniversary. Samantha has denied she would be leaving Hyderabad and moving to Mumbai.

Those close to the award-winning actress have claimed she will throw herself into work and has a number of high-profile movies on the way, including Telugu mythological drama Shaakuntalam and Tamil romance Kaathu Vaakula Rendu Kaadhal. His forthcoming films include Telugu drama Thank You and a supporting role in his Bollywood debut Laal Singh Chaddha.

Their fans have been left heartbroken and although they have released cordial statements, the divorce was likely not amiable behind the scenes. But the real reason for this unexpected split is unlikely to come out because both stars will want to protect their respective brands and not take attention away from any forthcoming projects. They will want to move on quickly, but that will be difficult for a much-loved couple admired by millions of film fans.