Naga Chaitanya Says He Was “Treated Like A Criminal” After Divorce From Samantha Ruth Prabhu
In a recent interview while promoting ‘Thandel’, Naga Chaitanya addressed his separation from Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Being a celebrity today means living under constant scrutiny, where every action is analysed, judged, or misinterpreted. The situation becomes even more challenging when a public figure faces a personal setback. Speculation runs wild, and social media turns into a battlefield of opinions, with people taking sides or adding to the fuelling rumours. When South Indian stars Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu announced their separation in 2021 after nearly four years of marriage, the internet was quick to react – some with empathy, others with relentless criticism.
The negativity that followed was overwhelming, making it difficult for Naga Chaitanya to navigate his personal life in the public eye. In a candid conversation on the Raw Talks With VK podcast, Naga Chaitanya finally addressed the backlash, opening up about how it felt to have his personal life dissected by strangers online.
Talking about the criticism that he received on social media, Naga Chaitanya said, “When we announced our separation, we put out a post saying we had our own reasons, and we were moving on. What other explanation is actually required? I hoped that the audience and media would respect our request for privacy. But it just became headlines, talking points, gossip, and basically, entertainment.”
The actor also shared that Samantha Ruth Prabhu has “moved on” in her life. This statement comes amid the ongoing dating rumours involving Samantha and ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ director Raj Nidimoru. He also questioned why he is being treated like a “criminal”.
Naga Chaitanya said, “I've moved on with so much grace. She has moved on with so much grace. We are leading our own lives. I have found love again. I am so happy and we have so much respect for each other. It's not like it's only happening in my life, so why am I treated like a criminal?”
Opening up about his decision to split from Samantha Ruth Prabhu, he further clarified that their divorce was a well-thought-out “mutual” decision made for the betterment of both individuals.
“It was for the betterment of whoever was involved in the marriage... Whatever the decision was, it was a very conscious decision after much thought and with a lot of respect for the other person. I'm saying this because it's a very sensitive topic for me. I come from a broken family. I'm a child from a broken family so I know what the experience is like. I will think 1000 times before breaking a relationship because I know the repercussions... It was a mutual decision,” Naga Chaitanya said.
Acknowledging the emotional weight of the separation, he added, “It's not like it happened overnight for me to feel down. I feel bad that it happened but everything happens for a reason. You build yourself, you keep progressing and you will find the right path soon. That's happened to me.”
For the unversed, Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who tied the knot in 2017, announced their separation in 2021. Naga Chaitanya is now married to actress Sobhita Dhulipala.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Naga Chaitanya can be currently seen alongside Sai Pallavi in ‘Thandel’. In its first weekend, the movie minted Rs 35.85 crore, as per Sacnilk.
