Renu Desai is an Indian actress, former model, filmmaker, producer, and costume designer, who is best known for her work in the Telugu and Marathi film industries. She is also the ex-wife of the popular South Indian actor and politician Pawan Kalyan, with whom she has two children.
Renu has a versatile and creative personality, as she has explored various aspects of filmmaking, from acting to directing. She is also an avid reader, writer, and poet, who often shares her thoughts and opinions on social media.
Early Life and Family
Renu was born on 4 December 1981 (age 42 years) in Pune, Maharashtra, into a middle-class Marathi family. She had a difficult childhood, as she faced discrimination at home for being a girl child.
She also witnessed the slaughter of a baby goat on the road, which made her turn vegetarian at the age of seven. She developed a passion for reading and writing poems from a young age.
Renu Desai Wiki/Bio
| Name | Renu Desai |
| Profession(s) | Actress, Former Model, Filmmaker, Producer, Costume Designer |
| Date of Birth | 4 December 1981 |
| Age (as of 2024) | 42 years |
| Birthplace | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Marital Status | Engaged |
| Ex-Husband | Pawan Kalyan (m. 2009-div. 2012) |
| Fiancé | Name Not Known |
| Children | Son – Akira Nandan Daughter – Aadhya Konidela |
| Hobbies | Reading, Writing Poems |
| Car Collection | Porsche Boxster |
| renuudesai | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Professional Career
Desai started her career as a model at the age of 15 and appeared in various advertisements and music videos. She made her acting debut in 2000 with the Telugu romantic action film Badri, opposite Pawan Kalyan, who later became her husband. She also acted in the Tamil comedy thriller film James Pandu in the same year. In 2003, she played the lead role of Geetanjali in the Telugu martial arts film Johnny, which was also directed by Pawan Kalyan.
Apart from acting, Renu Desai also worked as a costume designer and editor for some of Pawan Kalyan’s films, such as Kushi (2001), Gudumba Shankar (2004), and Balu ABCDEFG (2005). She also ventured into production and filmmaking in the Marathi film industry, with films like Mangalashtak Once More (2013) and Ishq Wala Love (2014). She made her television debut in 2021 with the Telugu serial Radhamma Kuthuru, in which she played the role of Goddess Parvathi.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Renu entered into a live-in relationship with Pawan Kalyan in 2001, while he was still married to his first wife Nandini. They had a son, Akira Nandan, in 2004, and a daughter, Aadhya Konidela, in 2010. They got married in 2009 after Pawan Kalyan divorced Nandini. However, their marriage did not last long, as they filed for divorce in 2011, and got separated in 2012.
Desai faced a lot of criticism and hatred from Pawan Kalyan’s fans, who blamed her for breaking his marriage and accused her of being a gold digger. She also revealed that Pawan Kalyan was the one who initiated the divorce and that he had another daughter with another woman without informing her.
She said that she requested him to issue a public statement to clarify the matter, but he did not oblige. She also said that she suffered from depression and anxiety after the divorce and that she had to raise her children as a single mother.
Current Partner & Affairs
In 2018, Renu got engaged to a businessman, whose name she kept secret. She announced her engagement on her Instagram account and said that she was happy to find love again. She also said that she had the consent of her children and ex-husband for her second marriage.
However, she faced more backlash from Pawan Kalyan’s fans, who trolled her and threatened her on social media. She later deleted her Instagram account and said that she was tired of the negativity and abuse.
Achievements and Awards
Renu has won several awards and accolades for her work in the film industry, both as an actor and a filmmaker. Some of them are:
- Nandi Award for Best Costume Designer for Kushi (2001)
- Zee Talkies Maharashtracha Favourite Debut for Mangalashtak Once More (2013)
- Zee Talkies Maharashtracha Favourite Director for Ishq Wala Love (2014)
- Zee Talkies Maharashtracha Favourite Film for Ishq Wala Love (2014)
- Zee Talkies Maharashtracha Favourite Producer for Ishq Wala Love (2014)
Net Worth
According to various sources, Renu Desai’s net worth is estimated to be around $22 million as of 2022. She earns her income from various sources, such as Acting, Directing, Producing, Modeling, Costume Designing and Editing, and more.
Renu Desai Wiki/Bio
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 6″. In Meters: 1.67 m. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 50-55 kg. In Pounds: 110-121 lbs. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown. |
Parents and Siblings
Desai was born on 4 December 1981 in Pune, Maharashtra, into a middle-class Marathi family. She had a difficult childhood, as she faced discrimination at home for being a girl child. She also witnessed the slaughter of a baby goat on the road, which made her turn vegetarian at the age of seven. She developed a passion for reading and writing poems from a young age.
Renu has not revealed the names or professions of her parents, but she has shared some photos of them on her social media accounts. She also has an elder sister and a younger brother, whose names are also not known. She is very close to her siblings and often posts pictures with them.
Nationality, Caste, and Religion
Renu is an Indian by nationality and belongs to the Brahmin caste by birth. She follows the Hinduism religion and is a spiritual person. She follows the teachings of Osho and Sadhguru and practices meditation and yoga regularly.
Controversies
Renu has faced several controversies in her personal and professional life, such as:
Her relationship and divorce with Pawan Kalyan: Desai entered into a live-in relationship with Pawan Kalyan in 2001, while he was still married to his first wife Nandini. They had a son, Akira Nandan, in 2004, and a daughter, Aadhya Konidela, in 2010. They got married in 2009, after Pawan Kalyan divorced Nandini. However, their marriage did not last long, as they filed for divorce in 2011, and got separated in 2012.
Renu faced a lot of criticism and hatred from Pawan Kalyan’s fans, who blamed her for breaking his marriage and accused her of being a gold digger. She also revealed that Pawan Kalyan was the one who initiated the divorce and that he had another daughter with another woman without informing her. She said that she requested him to issue a public statement to clarify the matter, but he did not oblige. She also said that she suffered from depression and anxiety after the divorce and that she had to raise her children as a single mother.
Her engagement and second marriage: In 2018, Renu got engaged to a businessman, whose name she kept secret. She announced her engagement on her Instagram account and said that she was happy to find love again. She also said that she had the consent of her children and ex-husband for her second marriage.
However, she faced more backlash from Pawan Kalyan’s fans, who trolled her and threatened her on social media. She later deleted her Instagram account and said that she was tired of the negativity and abuse.
Her comments on Pawan Kalyan’s political career: Desai has also expressed her views on Pawan Kalyan’s political career, and has supported him on some issues while criticizing him on others. She has also faced the wrath of his fans and opponents for her opinions.
For example, in 2019, she praised Pawan Kalyan for his stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and said that he was the only leader who spoke for the people. She also said that she was proud of him as a citizen, and not as an ex-wife.
However, in 2020, she slammed Pawan Kalyan for his silence on the rape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad and said that he should have raised his voice against the heinous crime. She also said that he should not use his popularity as an actor to gain votes, and should focus on the welfare of the people.
Her rejection of Sarkaru Vaari Paata: In 2023, Renu revealed that she had rejected an offer to act in Mahesh Babu’s film Sarkaru Vaari Paata, in which she was supposed to play a bank officer. She said that she declined the role due to some undisclosed reasons, and that she could not reveal those reasons to avoid unnecessary controversy
Trivia
- Desai is a Gujarati by origin and can speak Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, English, and Telugu languages fluently.
- She is an animal lover and has adopted many stray dogs and cats. She also supports various animal welfare organizations and campaigns.
- Desai is a spiritual person and follows the teachings of Osho and Sadhguru. She also practices meditation and yoga regularly.
- She is a fan of the Hollywood director Christopher Nolan, and the writers Isabel Allende and Haruki Murakami. Her favorite poem is ‘Tonight I Can Write (The Saddest Lines)’ by Pablo Neruda.
- Desai is active on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where she often posts her poems, photos, and videos. She also interacts with her fans and followers and answers their questions and queries.
