Actor Nagarjuna has reacted to the news of his son Naga Chaitanya‘s separation from Samantha. In a statement, Nagarjuna called the separation “unfortunate” and said that Samantha “will always be dear” to him and his family. 

“With a heavy heart let me say this! Whatever happened between Sam and Chay is very unfortunate. What happens between a wife and husband is very personal. Sam and Chay, both are dear to me. My family will always cherish the moments spent with Sam and she will always be dear to us. May God bless them both with strength,” Nagarjuna said in the statement shared on Twitter.

Following days of speculations, Samantha and Chaitanya announced their separation on Saturday.

“To all our well wishers. After much deliberation and thought Sam and I have decided to part ways as husband and wife to pursue our own paths. We are fortunate to have a friendship of over a decade that was the very core of our relationship which we believe will always hold a special bond between us,” they said in a statement. 

“We request our fans, well wishers and the media to support us during this difficult time and give us the privacy we need to move on. Thank you for your support,” the statement added. 

Also Read: Memes, publicity: How internet reacted to Samantha Akkineni’s separation

The duo made their relationship public in 2016 after dating for several years. They tied the knot the following year. 

Rumours of trouble in paradise started doing the rounds earlier this year after Samantha changed her name on social media platforms from Samantha Akkineni to simply ‘S’. She, however, denied the claims on several occasions.

However, Samantha recently shared an Instagram post on how she handles pain, giving her fans a hint that all was not well in her personal life.

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it – always” she wrote.