'Marry and have kids in 20s': Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu responds to Upasana Kamineni’s career–marriage remark

A nationwide debate over career, marriage and fertility planning intensified after Ram Charan's wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela stirred a debate with his comments on freezing their eggs. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu responded to comments made by entrepreneur Upasana Kamineni Konidela, who recently advised women students at IIT Hyderabad to consider freezing their eggs. Vembu urged young entrepreneurs to marry and have children earlier, joining a conversation that has sharply divided doctors, influencers and the public.

The discussion began when Upasana’s video from IIT Hyderabad went viral, leading to criticism, clarifications and now comments from industry leaders. Her suggestion that egg freezing offers women freedom to plan their lives has sparked conversations about privilege, affordability and changing social expectations.

The debate began after Upasana told women students during a career counselling session:

"The biggest insurance for women is to freeze their eggs. Because then you can choose when to get married, when you want to have kids, on your own terms, when you are financially independent."

In her post, she added that when she asked students how many wanted to get married soon, “more men raised their hands than women,” calling it a sign of “Progressive India.”

Upasana breaks silence

Upasana stepped in to address the storm, calling the conversation a "healthy debate."

She wrote on X, "I'm happy to have sparked a healthy debate & thank your for your respectful responses. Stay tuned as I voice my opinions on the pleasures/pressures of privilege - that u all have been talking about."

She also urged people to look at the information she had shared. "Don't forget to check out my images! It has very important facts that will help you make the right comments."

In her detailed note, Upasana reflected on her own decisions around marriage and fertility. She wrote, "I married for love and companionship at 27 - a choice I made on my own terms. At 29, I decided to freeze my eggs for personal and health reasons. I welcomed my first child at 36 and am now expecting twins at 39. For me, marriage and career are not competing priorities - they are equally meaningful parts of a fulfilled life. But I decide the timeline! That's not privilege, it's my right!"

She thanked followers for responding respectfully and invited companies to work with her to get “more women into the workforce.”