Career crisis, loss of family members, uncertainty: How Mahesh Babu and Namrata’s marriage survived the difficult years

21 years into their marriage, Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar’s relationship continues to draw attention for its quiet strength rather than public spectacle. As they mark their 21st wedding anniversary, Namrata has opened up about the lesser-seen chapters of their life together. In a candid chat with Hyderabad Times, she reflected on career setbacks, personal grief, parenthood, and the everyday work that keeps a long marriage steady and grounded.

Speaking about her marriage, Namrata, who has been a model, Miss India, and an actor, described Mahesh Babu as someone who is not overtly romantic. Yet, she shared that he often surprises her with heartfelt appreciation over the smallest gestures, moments that leave a lasting impact on her.

How Mahesh Babu and Namrata keep their marriage strong

On what keeps their marriage strong, Namrata explained that love is the core of any lasting relationship. She believes marriages tend to fall apart when love is missing, which then breeds insecurity. In her case, she said she has never felt insecure because Mahesh has never given her a reason to feel that way. According to her, he values his home, his family, his children, and his relationship with her, and balances all of it with care.


Mahesh Babu married Namrata Shirodkar on 10 February 2005 in Mumbai, during the shooting of Athadu. The couple has two children, Gautam and Sitara. Gautam appeared as the younger version of Mahesh Babu in 1: Nenokkadine, while Sitara lent her voice to young Elsa in the Telugu dub of Frozen 2.

Tough time in their marriage

Namrata shared that their life together has never been a fairytale. Like any marriage, it has involved children, work pressures, responsibilities, and emotional lows. One of the toughest phases came about three years after their wedding. Mahesh was on an extended career break and struggling with decisions about which film to sign next. Around the same time, Namrata lost both her parents, and Mahesh lost his grandmother. The emotional weight of those years was heavy, but she said that phase ultimately made them stronger as individuals and as a couple.

Looking back, Namrata described that difficult period as a blessing in disguise. Their bond became more solid, and they emerged as a close-knit nuclear family. Their son Gautam was just over a year old then, and Mahesh got the rare opportunity to be deeply involved in his early years. She noted that Mahesh watched Gautam grow up closely, which created a strong father-son bond. Today, Gautam shares an unusually close connection with his father, something Namrata feels is rare, especially for fathers with demanding careers. While they try to give their daughter Sitara the same amount of time, she acknowledged that the circumstances were different.

Namrata stepping away from limelight

Namrata also spoke about stepping away from her acting career. She revealed that Mahesh was clear from the beginning that he did not want a working wife. He wanted time devoted to him initially and later to their children. When she quit her career and moved entirely to Hyderabad after marriage, many people warned her that marriage would mark the end of her identity. At the time, she said she did not see it that way.

Years later, Namrata said she respects Mahesh’s decision even more because she understands the difference it made to their family life. While she admires those who successfully balance demanding careers and family, she shared that she would not trade her life for anything else. Whether it is Mahesh as a husband, Mahesh as a father, or their life together as a family, she feels content with what they have built.