Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan and his wife Anna Konidala have announced their decision to separate. In a joint statement, the couple said that it was a mutual decision and that they would continue to remain good friends and devoted parents to their children.
The statement reads:
"To Our Well-Wishers, Near and Dear Ones...
After sharing a significant part of our lives together, we have decided to part ways with mutual understanding and respect. 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 remain our shared priority.
During this personal transition, we seek your understanding, kindness, and respect for our privacy. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has stood by us throughout this journey.
Pawan Kalyan Konidala
Anna Konidala"
Pawan Kalyan married Anna Lezhneva, a Russian national, in September 2013. The couple have a son and a daughter. Their son is named Mark Shankar Pawanovich, a name that reportedly combines Pawan Kalyan's name with that of his elder brother, Chiranjeevi.
Anna later adopted the name Anna Konidala and embraced Indian, particularly Telugu, traditions while continuing to follow her own religious practices.
Before marrying Anna, Pawan Kalyan was married to actor Renu Desai, his co-star in a few films. The two reportedly began their relationship in 2001 after meeting on the sets of Badri (2000), which marked Renu's acting debut opposite Pawan Kalyan. They later worked together in Johnny as well. The couple got married in January 2009 and have a son and a daughter. They separated in 2012.
Before Renu Desai, Pawan Kalyan married Nandini in May 1997. The marriage ended in separation in 1999.
Interestingly, both Renu Desai and Anna Konidala have maintained cordial relationships with Pawan Kalyan following their respective separations.
On the political front, Pawan Kalyan founded the Jana Sena Party in 2014. Although the party did not contest the elections that year, it extended support to the BJP and Telugu Desam Party. In the 2019 elections, Jana Sena contested independently but managed to win only one Assembly seat. Pawan Kalyan himself contested from two constituencies, Bhimavaram and Gajuwaka, but lost to candidates from the YSR Congress Party.
In the subsequent elections, Pawan Kalyan played a key role in bringing the TDP, BJP and Jana Sena together to form an alliance in Andhra Pradesh. The alliance registered a landslide victory, with Jana Sena winning all the seats it contested. Pawan Kalyan subsequently took charge as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The announcement of his separation from Anna has come as a surprise to many of his fans. Apart from his political career, Pawan Kalyan continues to be one of the leading stars of Telugu cinema. His recent film OG: Ojus Gambheera emerged as a major hit, while his subsequent release, Ustaad Bhagat Singh, failed to meet expectations at the box office.