Actress Renu Desai, deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and ex-wife of actor Pawan Kalyan, once opened up about her relationship with him. Pawan Kalyan and Renu Desai got married in 2009 and divorced in 2012. They are the parents of two children, a son and a daughter.

In a 2017 interview with ABN Telugu, as reported by Indian Express, Renu Desai sheds light on her past relationship with Pawan Kalyan and says she believes she has come closest to understanding him as a person.

“I think even he wouldn’t deny that I came the closest to understanding him. I was not only his wife, but also his co-worker. When you’re with someone 24/7, it’s a whole life. Besides, we were friends. We were never like normal husband and wife. We were always very good friends, and so, he shared more with me.”

During the interview, Renu addressed the backlash by saying in a television interview that she might consider remarrying in the future. He said it was a health scare that made him consider remarrying, though he clarified that he was single.

His comments were criticized by a section of people.

In response, Renu shared a strongly worded message on social media, which she described as society’s double standards.

Opening the post, as reported by Indian Express, she clarified that it was not about her personal situation alone, she wrote in Telugu, “In our society, a man can do anything and marry many times, but it is a sin for a woman to even think of another relationship. Should a woman be single for life with regrets?”

Renu reiterated her views during the same ABN Telugu interview and said that she still sees remarriage as a possibility in the future.

“Until last year, my mind was completely closed: no marriage, no love. Even now, I don’t care much about love. I mean, I don’t expect a stereotypical romance. But I need a partner.”

However, Renu has never remarried.

In the latest development, Pawan Kalyan and Anna Konidala, who got married in 2013, announced their separation. In a joint statement posted on Kalyan’s Instagram page, they said they took the decision out of “mutual understanding and respect”.

They also said that they will remain good friends.

“Although our marriage is over, we remain good friends and devoted parents to our wonderful children. Their happiness and well-being will always be our shared priority,” the statement read.

Addressing their well-wishers, the couple also requested that people respect their privacy during this personal transition.

“During this personal transition, we ask for your understanding, kindness and respect for your privacy. We sincerely thank everyone who has stood by us throughout this journey,” it said.