Upasana Konidela faces backlash over egg freezing advice to IIT Hyderabad students
Upasana Konidela, wife of megastar Ram Charan and a senior executive at Apollo Hospitals, has come under intense public scrutiny following remarks she made about career and family planning at an event at IIT Hyderabad. Konidela, who married Ram Charan at the age of 23 and had a child at 34, suggested that students consider egg freezing as a means to prioritize their careers.
Speaking at the prestigious institute, Konidela described egg freezing as a form of “insurance” for women, enabling them to delay motherhood without compromising professional aspirations. Her comments, however, sparked immediate backlash from both medical professionals and the public, with critics arguing that the statement oversimplifies complex medical, emotional, and financial considerations associated with fertility preservation.
Several gynecologists and fertility experts highlighted that egg freezing is not a guaranteed solution and should not be treated as a failsafe for family planning. Dr. Anjali Mehta, a leading fertility specialist, emphasized, “While egg freezing can provide options, it is not a substitute for understanding natural fertility timelines or addressing the health risks associated with delayed pregnancies. It’s important to present it as a choice rather than an insurance policy.”
Social media platforms quickly became the arena for debate, with users questioning whether such advice is appropriate for young students. Critics argued that framing egg freezing as a career strategy might place undue pressure on women to delay natural family planning, while others defended Konidela’s perspective, noting her personal experience balancing career ambitions and motherhood.
Upasana Konidela, known for her work at Apollo Hospitals, has largely remained silent amid the controversy. Observers note that her personal life—marrying early and starting a family over a decade later—likely informed her viewpoint, but the suggestion that egg freezing is a career “insurance” has clearly struck a nerve.
This incident comes amid growing conversations in India about reproductive choices and women’s career planning. Fertility preservation techniques like egg freezing have gained attention, but medical experts continue to caution that it should be approached as one option among many rather than a definitive solution.
IIT Hyderabad, where the remarks were made, has not issued an official statement, but faculty members indicated that the session was intended to inspire students to think broadly about career and life planning. Nonetheless, the public reaction underscores the sensitivity surrounding reproductive health advice and the broader societal pressures faced by women in professional environments.
As debates around women’s autonomy, career choices, and reproductive health continue, the incident highlights the need for nuanced discussion and expert guidance when addressing topics that intertwine personal decisions with professional ambitions.
