Naga Chaitanya recently opened up about how his wife, Sobhita Dhulipala, plays a crucial role in his professional decision-making. While the couple usually keeps their relationship private, a recent interview offered a rare glimpse into their dynamic.
The actor, in conversation with News18 Showsha, shared that he relies on her insights whenever he faces uncertainty. The actor described his wife as his “bouncing board,” crediting her for her calm and practical approach in helping him navigate stressful situations.
He said, “I take all my ideas to her. Whenever there’s any confusion, I go to her. When I’m in stress, she picks it up. She immediately asks me, ‘What’s wrong? What is it?’ She’s definitely my bouncing board. She gives me great advice. Her opinions are very, very neutral, and she thinks from the right space. I value her opinions a lot. Everything goes through and gets filtered through her. She’s very level-headed.”
During the trailer launch of his upcoming film Thandel in Vishakhapatnam, the actor affectionately referred to Dhulipala as a “Vizag ammayi,” revealing that he fell in love with a local girl from the city and married her. He also credited his wife for helping him pick up the local dialect for the film, emphasising how she is his go-to person for advice on both professional and personal matters.
Having a partner who offers guidance and emotional support can significantly impact one’s career. But how can involving a partner in professional decisions improve clarity and reduce stress?
Gurleen Baruah, existential psychotherapist at That Culture Thing tells indianexpress.com, “Involving a partner in professional decisions helps because it taps into the psychological need for secure attachment — the idea that having a trusted person to lean on reduces stress and fosters emotional resilience. When decisions feel overwhelming, a partner acts as an emotional anchor, providing comfort and stability. This isn’t just about reassurance; it’s about creating a psychological safe space where thoughts can be processed without judgment.”
Discussing decisions with a partner also helps cognitive offloading — sharing the mental load and reducing decision fatigue. Baruah states that their outsider perspective often breaks through cognitive biases like overthinking or confirmation bias, offering clarity that’s hard to achieve alone.
Is there a risk of becoming overly dependent on a spouse for career-related choices
Baruah says, “Yes, there’s a potential risk of becoming overly dependent on a spouse for career-related choices, but it’s not always black and white. Dependency isn’t inherently bad—after all, we’re wired for connection.”
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At times, leaning on a partner can feel like standing near a river — you’re not sure if you’re being nourished by its flow or slowly swept away by the current. Healthy interdependence is like dipping your feet in, feeling supported without losing your footing. But when every decision feels like it needs their approval to feel valid, the balance tips toward emotional fusion — where boundaries blur, and self-trust erodes.
Baruah asserts, “The idea that we must be entirely self-reliant is often glorified, but it overlooks the reality that we make sense of our lives through relationships. The key isn’t cutting off dependence; it’s cultivating self-awareness.”