Upasana Konidela has issued a detailed statement after receiving criticism for advising IIT Hyderabad students to freeze their eggs so they could avoid rushing into marriage and focus on their careers. The entrepreneur and Vice Chairperson of CSR at Apollo Hospitals shared a note on Instagram and Twitter, asserting that it is her right—not a privilege—to make choices about her life’s timeline.
She is glad to have sparked a debate
In her caption, Upasana noted that she is “happy to have sparked a healthy debate,” urging people to read her full statement to understand the facts about her career and marriage. She raised a series of questions about the societal expectations placed on women, writing, “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?”
Corrects assumptions about her personal timeline
Upasana also addressed claims that she was 23 when she married actor Ram Charan. She clarified that she was 27 at the time, 29 when she froze her eggs, 36 when she welcomed her daughter, Klin Kaara, and is now expecting twins at 39. Sharing what she called a “fact check,” she wrote, “I married for love and companionship at 27 – a choice I made on my own terms. At 29, I decided to freeze me eggs for personal and health reasons, something I’ve always spoken about openly to encourage other women to explore their options (for the record it wasn’t at Apollo). I welcomed my first child at 36 and am now expecting twins at 39.”
Marriage and career were always equal priorities
Reflecting on her journey, Upasana added that she has consistently prioritised both family and career. She wrote, “Through my journey, I have given equal importance to building my career and nurturing my marriage, because a happy, stable environment matters deeply when raising a family. 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!!!”
Her original IIT remark triggered the controversy
The backlash began after 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 some viewed her comment as practical, several doctors and social media users argued that such choices are accessible mainly to those who are financially privileged.Upasana and Ram Charan got engaged in 2011 and married in 2012. They welcomed their first child, Klin Kaara, in 2023, and Upasana is currently pregnant with twins. Go to Source
