Entrepreneur Upasana Konidela has broken her silence with a detailed statement after facing significant backlash for recommending that IIT Hyderabad students consider freezing their eggs to focus on careers without rushing into marriage.
Standing by her right to choose
The Vice Chairperson of CSR at Apollo Hospitals took to Instagram and Twitter to assert that making choices about one's life timeline is a fundamental right rather than a privilege. Upasana expressed satisfaction at having sparked what she called a healthy debate about women's autonomy and societal expectations.
In her social media caption, she urged people to read her complete statement to understand the facts about her career and marriage decisions. She posed several thought-provoking questions challenging conventional norms placed on women: "Is it wrong for a woman to marry for love instead of giving in to societal pressure? Is it wrong for her to wait until she finds the right partner? Is it wrong for a woman to choose when she wants to have children based on her own circumstances? Is it wrong for a woman to set her goals and focus on her career rather than only thinking of marriage or having children early?"
Clarifying her personal timeline
Upasana specifically addressed misconceptions about her personal life journey, providing what she termed a "fact check" regarding her age at various milestones. She clarified that she was 27 when she married actor Ram Charan, not 23 as some had claimed. She froze her eggs at age 29 for personal and health reasons, welcomed her first child Klin Kaara at 36, and is currently expecting twins at age 39.
She emphasized the deliberate nature of her choices, stating: "I married for love and companionship at 27 – a choice I made on my own terms. At 29, I decided to freeze my eggs for personal and health reasons, something I've always spoken about openly to encourage other women to explore their options." She specifically noted that the procedure wasn't conducted at Apollo Hospitals.
Balancing career and family equally
Reflecting on her personal journey, Upasana highlighted that she has consistently given equal importance to both her professional ambitions and family life. She wrote about maintaining this balance throughout her marriage, explaining that a stable and happy environment is crucial when raising a family.
"Through my journey, I have given equal importance to building my career and nurturing my marriage," she shared. "For me, marriage and career are not competing priorities – they are equally meaningful parts of a fulfilled life. But I decide the timeline! That's not privilege it's my right!!!"
The original controversy
The controversy originated from her session at IIT Hyderabad, where Upasana told students: "The biggest insurance for women is to save your eggs. Because then you can choose when to get married, when you want to have kids on your own terms, when you are financially independent. Today, I stand on my own two feet, I earn a living for myself."
While many viewed her advice as practical and empowering, several medical professionals and social media users argued that such options remain primarily accessible to financially privileged women, highlighting the economic barriers to egg freezing procedures.
Upasana Konidela and Ram Charan got engaged in 2011 and married in 2012. They welcomed their daughter Klin Kaara in 2023, and Upasana is currently pregnant with twins, demonstrating the very timeline choices she has advocated for throughout the recent debate.
