Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya were once one of the most beloved couples in the Telugu film industry. Their love story, which began on the sets of their hit movie Ye Maaya Chesave in 2010, captured the hearts of many. After dating for eight years, the couple tied the knot in a fairy-tale wedding in 2017. However, their marriage came to an unexpected end in 2021, shocking their fans.
During their time together, Samantha often spoke highly of Naga Chaitanya, fondly referring to him as “husband material.” In a 2019 appearance on Lakshmi Manchu’s chat show, Feet Up With The Stars (Telugu), Samantha expressed her deep admiration for her then-husband. She recounted how Naga Chaitanya had been a part of her life since she had nothing and shared a touching memory from when they were in the United States. Samantha revealed that she was so broke at that time that she couldn’t even afford to make a call to her mother. It was Naga Chaitanya who lent her his phone to make the call, and this gesture left a lasting impression on her. “Chay has seen me from nothing. I remember I didn’t have money to make a call to my mother from the US. I took his phone and made a call home. Chay has seen me from that to this and so how can it be anybody else, right?”she said.
On the same show, Samantha humorously mentioned that Chaitanya was not just married to her but also to his pillow. She humorously mentioned, “Chay is so attached to his pillow that it’s always between us, even when I try to hug him. He might not be too happy with me sharing this, so I’ll stop here.”
Despite the public perception of their perfect relationship, things took a different turn behind closed doors. In October 2021, the couple announced their separation leaving their fans heartbroken. The reasons for their split were never fully disclosed, but rumors and speculations ran wild. Samantha, who was visibly affected by the divorce, opened up about the emotional turmoil she experienced. On Koffee With Karan 7, when asked about her current relationship with Chaitanya, she candidly admitted that there were still hard feelings between them. She even joked that if they were in the same room, someone would have to hide all sharp objects.
The media frenzy around their separation intensified when news broke of Chaitanya’s relationship with actress Sobhita Dhulipala. Reports suggest that Chaitanya and Sobhita got engaged on August 8, 2024, although the couple has kept their relationship mostly under wraps. Meanwhile, Samantha has been sharing cryptic posts on social media, which many believe are indirect references to her ex-husband’s new relationship.
