As Upasana and Ram Charan celebrated 13 years of togetherness last month, here's a look back at her first meeting experience with her in-laws, before marriage.
Megastar, Chiranjeevi is currently facing widespread backlash for comments he made on January 25, 2026, denying the existence of a "casting couch" culture in the Telugu film industry. During a success meet for his latest film, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, in Hyderabad, the 70-year-old actor stated there is "no such thing as a casting couch" and suggested that "bitter experiences" are the individual's fault. Many fans saw it as a sign of disrespect towards women, reflecting a disregard for their hardships. Amid that, interest has been sparked in how Chiranjeevi treats his daughter-in-law, Upasana. Read to know about his first impression of her.
Upasana revealed that Vishwambhara star, Chiranjeevi, was aware of her presence in his son's life, even before officially meeting her. It shows that Ram Charan was serious about her, having already informed his parents about the love of his life. Since Upasana and her in-laws were not strangers to each other during their first encounter, it would have been easier to communicate and bond. Upasana mentioned how welcoming they were and shared what they said when they first met her.
Upon meeting Upasana before her marriage to his son, Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi's first impression of her was that she was not like the usual, conventional South Indian women. His reaction might be based on her confident presence and due to her career goals and aspirations. Sharing the same with Curly Tales, Upasana said:
"He knew about me, and said she is not a traditional girl, she is different. He encourages me, respects what I do, and I have utmost respect for my in-laws. It is so important to have supportive in-laws."
Upasana said that Chiranjeevi and the rest of the family have been incredibly supportive towards her career. As per her, Chiranjeevi respects her work and encourages her to excel in her field.
Ram Charan's mother, Surekha, was also warm and affectionate towards her daughter-in-law, Upasana. Upasana revealed that she confided in Surekha the most, with her worries regarding being a celebrity's wife. Upasana, initially, thought of speaking with her own mother regarding this, but realised she, too, was not used to such a life. The only one in her closest vicinity who could guide her regarding that was her mother-in-law. Surekha's main advice to Upasana was:
"Seeing is believing. Don't believe everything everybody says."
Having faced the trials and tribulations of being a non-celebrity wife of a top star, Surekha knew about the kind of life Upasana was going to step into. Thus, she coached her on how to adjust to life in a high-profile film family and became her most significant pillar of support during periods of difficulty.
In the same interview, Upasana revealed that her and Ram Charan's love story was not at all movie-like, contrary to public perception. She mentioned that their relationship was quite simple, just like any other friends-turned-lovers. Ram Charan and Upasana met during their college days, where they began as friends. According to Upasana, their friendship wasn't an instant, "filmy" connection, but rather one that grew gradually over time, even with its share of arguments.
Their relationship didn't turn romantic until Upasana went overseas to study. The distance between them made Ram Charan realise how much he missed her, especially while filming his hit movie, Magadheera. Regarding that, Upasana said,
"Love just happened, and it was a nice change".
After dating for a few years, the couple got engaged in December 2011 and tied the knot six months later. Upasana described her marriage with Ram Charan as a partnership of equals, noting that he and his parents pushed her to achieve more.
What are your thoughts on Upasana's bond with her husband, Ram Charan, and her in-laws?
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