Pawan Kalyan and Anna Lezhneva Separate After 13 Years: Full Statement, Love Story and What We Know

Some news arrives quietly and still shakes an entire state. Late on Monday night, Pawan Kalyan, the Power Star of Telugu cinema and now Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, confirmed that his marriage to Anna Lezhneva has come to an end.

There was no drama in the announcement. Just a short, polite note signed by both of them, asking for privacy. But after years of on-and-off separation rumours, it is the first time the couple have said it themselves, and fans are now asking the obvious questions: what happened, what did the statement say, and who exactly is Anna?

Here’s everything we know so far.

What the Joint Statement Said

The note, titled “To Our Well-Wishers, Near and Dear Ones…”, was signed “Pawan Kalyan Konidala” and “Anna Konidala”. In it, the couple said that after sharing a significant part of their lives together, they had decided to part ways with mutual understanding and respect.

They added that although the marriage has ended, they remain good friends and devoted parents, with their children’s happiness and well-being as their “shared priority”. The note closes with a request for kindness and privacy during what they called a “personal transition”, and thanks everyone who stood by them.

What the statement does not include is a reason. Neither Pawan nor Anna has said why they are separating, and Jana Sena sources have only stressed that the decision was mutual. Anything beyond that, for now, is speculation.

Is It a Divorce or a Separation?

Both, it seems. The public statement talks about parting ways and says plainly that “our marriage has come to an end”. According to Jana Sena sources quoted by multiple outlets, the couple have already filed a divorce petition in a Family Court by mutual consent. Neither Pawan nor Anna has publicly confirmed the court filing themselves, so treat that part as reported rather than official.

Who Is Anna Lezhneva?

Anna Lezhneva, who now goes by Anna Konidala, is from Saint Petersburg, Russia. She is often described as a former model, but she has said herself that she has “never looked like an actress or a model”, and the famous 2011 photo shared as her actually shows actress Dana Marks. She met Pawan Kalyan in 2011 during the making of the Telugu film Teen Maar, and the two married on September 30, 2013. After the wedding she took the name Anna Konidela, and the same surname appears on the joint statement. Read her full story in Who Is Anna Lezhneva? The Real Story of Pawan Kalyan’s Wife.

Anna has always kept a low public profile. She rarely gives interviews and is mostly seen beside Pawan at family functions, religious ceremonies and the odd political occasion. That is a big reason the separation news landed with such a jolt: most fans knew very little about her life away from the cameras.

Pawan Kalyan and Anna’s Love Story

Their story began on a film set. Pawan was shooting Teen Maar when he met Anna, and reports say they dated for about two years before marrying in 2013. The couple share children, and Pawan has long been described as a hands-on father.

As Pawan’s political career grew, Anna stayed largely in the background. She appeared alongside him at key family moments, including the celebrations at home after Jana Sena’s big win in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections.

The Separation Rumours Started Years Ago

This isn’t the first time the couple’s marriage has made headlines. In July 2023, several portals reported that Pawan and Anna had separated after Anna was noticeably absent from Varun Tej and Lavanya Tripathi’s engagement. Reports at the time claimed she was living abroad with the children.

The couple then appeared together at a pooja, which many fans read as a quiet answer to the gossip. Pictures of the two in traditional outfits went viral, and the rumours died down. Monday’s statement shows that whatever was happening, they chose to keep it private until now.

Pawan Kalyan’s Previous Marriages

Anna is Pawan Kalyan’s third wife. He first married Nandini in 1997, and that marriage ended in divorce in 2008. He then married actress Renu Desai in 2009. They have two children, Akira Nandan and Aadhya, and separated in 2012.

Pawan has spoken in the past about the public scrutiny his personal life attracts, especially after entering politics. He founded the Jana Sena Party in 2014 and became Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister on June 12, 2024.

How Fans Are Reacting

Social media is split between shock and respect. Many fans are praising the calm, dignified tone of the statement and asking others to leave the family alone. Others are simply surprised. For a star whose every film release turns into a festival in Andhra and Telangana, a personal announcement like this was always going to trend fast.

Fans of Pawan’s films will know there’s plenty on his plate. After Hari Hara Veera Mallu, his slate includes Ustaad Bhagat Singh, which also features Sakshi Vaidya.

FAQs

Source: The South First report on the separation