Pawan Kalyan's ex-wife Renu Desai compares life after divorce to Lord Ram's exile
Actor, filmmaker and animal welfare activist Renu Desai has spoken about how her identity continues to be linked to her former husband, Pawan Kalyan, even 14 years after their divorce. In a recent conversation, she compared her experience to Lord Ram's 14-year exile and wondered when she would finally be able to move past the public's perception of her.
Speaking on the Vishal Talks podcast, Renu said people in the Telugu film industry often treat her arrival in Hyderabad for the 2000 film Badri, which starred Pawan Kalyan, as the beginning of her life.
"For Telugu people, here's something about my life. I was born only in June 1999, when I came for Badri. Before that, I didn't really have a life. That's how people do it," she said.
Reflecting on how long she has been dealing with this perception, the actor added, "It's been 14 years. Even Lord Ram was in exile, but for only 14 years. When will my exile end?"
Renu also pointed out that she has built a career of her own since separating from Pawan Kalyan in 2012. She went on to produce a Marathi film that became a success and later took on writing and directing responsibilities for another project. She also participated in a dance reality show, wrote poetry and returned to acting.
"We divorced back in 2012, right? After 2012, I produced a Marathi movie that was a super hit. Then I wrote, produced, and directed another movie. I did a dance show, wrote poetry, now I'm doing films. If I'm nobody, why would anyone call me?" she said.
The actor also spoke about the criticism she faces on social media, particularly over her life after the divorce and her efforts towards animal welfare. Renu said she has been targeted for looking after stray animals, with some people questioning her purpose in life after her separation from Pawan Kalyan.
"People are scolding me, saying I'll save a dog. They call it a waste in Telugu. She should have nothing to live for without him," she said.
Pawan Kalyan, who is currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and president of the Jana Sena Party, married Renu Desai in 2009. The couple have two children, son Akira and daughter Aadya. They divorced in 2012. Pawan later married Russian actor Anna Lezhneva in 2013. The couple have a child together.About Renu Desai
Renu began her career as a model in Mumbai. She participated in the Femina Miss India pageant, appeared in more than 30 advertisements and featured in the music video Breathless.
She made her Telugu film debut with Badri (2000), followed by Johnny (2003), both featuring Pawan Kalyan. She also worked as the production designer on the latter film.
Following her divorce, Renu expanded her work behind the camera. She produced and directed a Marathi film, served as a judge on Zee Telugu's Drama Juniors and later appeared in the 2023 film Tiger Nageswara Rao. She has also continued to write poetry and worked on the Telugu project Kashi Majili for ETV.
Away from the entertainment industry, Renu runs an animal rescue NGO that provides free medical treatment to stray dogs and cats.- EndsALSO READ | Actor Renu Desai warns trolls over abusive comments about past with Pawan Kalyan
