Amala Akkineni Opens Up About Her Special Bond with Stepson Naga Chaitanya
In a heartfelt revelation that offers a rare glimpse into one of Telugu cinema's most prominent families, actress Amala Akkineni has shared intimate details about her relationship with her stepson Naga Chaitanya and their unique family dynamics.
The Early Years and Family Background
The story begins with superstar Nagarjuna's first marriage to Lakshmi Daggubati in 1984. Lakshmi, being the daughter of legendary Telugu producer D Ramanaidu, founder of Suresh Productions, came from equally prestigious film lineage. The couple welcomed their son Naga Chaitanya in 1986, but their marriage unfortunately ended when Chaitanya was just four years old in 1990.
Following the separation, Lakshmi moved to Chennai with young Chaitanya, while Nagarjuna went on to marry actress Amala Akkineni in 1992. The couple later welcomed their own son, Akhil Akkineni, in 1994. Meanwhile, Lakshmi found love again and married businessman Sharath Vijayraghava.
Building a Relationship Over Time
In a candid interview with NTV, Amala explained how her bond with Chaitanya developed gradually over the years. "To be very honest, I got to know Chaitanya when he was a young man because he mostly lived with his mother in Chennai. He grew up there. He moved to Hyderabad for college. Of course, I was very much in touch with him, but I really got to know him when he moved to Hyderabad," she revealed.
Amala didn't hold back her admiration for the man Chaitanya has become. "He is a lovely human being. He has maturity and wisdom beyond his age. He is very responsible. He wouldn't do anything wrong. He has always had his own standing on things and always had his own planning," she shared warmly.
Different Parenting Roles, Same Values
While Amala acknowledged having limited influence on Chaitanya's upbringing compared to her biological son Akhil, she emphasized that both boys were raised with similar core values. "Akhil, of course, is my son, and I have had a lot of influence on him," she stated frankly.
The Akkineni family's parenting philosophy centered around fostering independence and responsibility. "We brought up our boys to be very independent—to take their own decisions. We taught them to analyze a situation, make their own choices, and own them regardless of the consequences," Amala explained.
She elaborated on their approach: "Sometimes things turn out well, and sometimes they don't, but that's how you learn. By encouraging them to make their own decisions, we helped them face both success and failure. It's about dealing with everything powerfully and knowing your family is there to support you."
Amala believes this method has proven successful, noting that both sons have "grown up beautifully" and that difficult times have accelerated their personal growth. Her reflections offer a touching portrait of a modern blended family that has successfully navigated complex relationships to build strong, loving bonds.
