Upasana Konidela reacts to backlash over egg freezing comment: Happy to spark debate
Entrepreneur and actor Ram Charan’s wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela has responded to the widespread discussion after her comments on egg freezing and women’s career options at IIT Hyderabad sparked online debate.
Upasana Kamineni Konidela is backing down after facing backlash over her egg freezing remarks at IIT Hyderabad. As the online debate raged, she stepped in to clarify her message, saying her intention was not to create controversy around women’s reproductive choices and career timelines, but to start a conversation.
As the criticism grew online, Upasana responded with a follow-up post, calling the reactions part of a necessary conversation. “I’m pleased to spark a healthy debate and thank you for your respectful responses,” he wrote in a post on Twitter on Wednesday evening.
She added, “Stay tuned as I express my opinion on the joys/pressures of privilege. Don’t miss my photos! There are so many important facts in there that will help you make the right comments. And to all those good employers out there – let’s work together to get more women into the workforce.”
Along with the note, Upasana also shared what she described as a personal “fact check”, detailing her journey through marriage, fertility and time.
She wrote, “I married at 27 for love and companionship – a choice I made on my own terms. At 29, I decided to freeze my eggs for personal and health reasons. I welcomed my first child at 36 and am now expecting twins at 39. For me, marriage and career are not competing priorities – they are equally meaningful parts of a fulfilling life. But I make deadlines! It’s not a privilege, it’s my right!”
Check out her post here:
“The biggest insurance for women is to freeze their eggs. Because then you can choose when to get married, when to have children, on your own terms, when you are financially independent,” Upasana said during her address at IIT Hyderabad. She later posted a video of the incident on X.
She also noticed an interesting change in the room: “More men than women raised their hands when asked about interest in marriage. Women seemed more focused on careers. This is new – progressive India.”
Her comments were supported by some, including medical professionals and working women, who agreed with her point of autonomy and planning. At the same time, others argued that her statement did not reflect broader economic and social realities, pointing out that egg freezing is inaccessible or impractical for many women in India.
With responses still coming in, Upasana has made it clear that she wants to remain engaged in the discussion – not just defending her stance, but framing egg freezing as one of the many tools available to understand women’s ambition, biology, and social timelines.
