The Boldest Choice: 6 South Stars Who Called Off Their Weddings

New Delhi, january 27, 2026: In the glitzy world of South Indian cinema, relationships are often followed with the same fervor as a blockbuster release. While fans eagerly anticipate grand weddings, not every fairy tale makes it to the altar. From “National Crush” Rashmika Mandanna to “Lady Superstar” Nayanthara, several high-profile stars have made the difficult decision to call off their engagements.

Here are six South Indian stars who chose to walk away from their engagements before saying “I do.”

1. Rashmika Mandanna and Rakshit Shetty

Rashmika Mandanna and Kannada star Rakshit Shetty fell in love on the sets of her debut film, Kirik Party. The duo got engaged in a lavish ceremony in 2017, but just a year later, they shocked the industry by announcing their split.

• The Reason: While the couple remained largely silent, reports suggested compatibility issues and a desire to focus on their respective careers. At the time, Rashmika’s career was skyrocketing in Telugu cinema, leading to professional pressures that reportedly strained the relationship.

2. Nayanthara and Prabhu Deva

One of the most talked-about relationships in South India was between Nayanthara and actor-director Prabhu Deva. Nayanthara even went as far as tattooing his name on her arm and taking a hiatus from films to settle down.

• The Reason: Despite being in a committed live-in relationship and planning a wedding, the two parted ways in 2012. The split was attributed to personal differences and legal complications surrounding Prabhu Deva’s previous marriage. Nayanthara eventually made a powerful comeback and is now happily married to director Vignesh Shivan.

3. Trisha Krishnan and Varun Manian

In early 2015, veteran actress Trisha Krishnan got engaged to businessman and film producer Varun Manian. The engagement was a private affair, but within three months, Trisha confirmed that she was single again.

• The Reason: Rumors suggested that Varun’s family wanted Trisha to quit acting after marriage—a condition the actress was not willing to accept. Choosing her passion and career over the alliance, Trisha called off the wedding and continues to be a top star in the industry today.

4. Vishal and Anisha Alla Reddy

Action star Vishal and Arjun Reddy actress Anisha Alla Reddy got engaged in a grand ceremony in Hyderabad in March 2019. The wedding was expected to take place later that year, but fans noticed something was wrong when Anisha deleted all photos of Vishal from her social media.

• The Reason: While neither party released an official statement regarding the cause, it was widely reported that unresolved differences between the two families and the couple led to the cancellation of the wedding.

5. Akhil Akkineni and Shriya Bhupal

The engagement of Nagarjuna’s younger son, Akhil Akkineni, to fashion designer Shriya Bhupal was the talk of Tollywood in 2016. A grand destination wedding in Italy was planned with over 700 guests invited. However, the wedding was called off just months before the ceremony.

• The Reason: Sources close to the families indicated that the couple had a major disagreement at the Hyderabad airport, and Akhil reportedly realized he was too young to settle down at that stage of his life.

6. Mehreen Pirzada and Bhavya Bishnoi

F2 actress Mehreen Pirzada got engaged to politician Bhavya Bishnoi in March 2021. However, just four months later, Mehreen took to social media to announce that she would not be moving forward with the wedding.

• The Reason: Mehreen stated that the decision was made “amicably and in the best interest.” Bhavya later mentioned differences in values and compatibility as the primary reasons. Both have since moved on to focus on their individual professional paths.

Conclusion

Calling off an engagement is a brave and difficult choice, especially under the relentless glare of the public eye. For these stars, choosing their personal happiness and career aspirations over a troubled union has often paved the way for even greater success in the long run.