Anupama Parameswaran has opened up about a painful two-year relationship, describing it as a cycle of narcissistic abuse. The actress, known for films like Premam and Karthikeya 2, compared her former partner to the iconic Tamil film character Anniyan and revealed how the relationship affected her career and personal freedom.
Speaking on Dhanya Varma’s YouTube show “I AM,” Anupama Parameswaran shared details about the emotional and physical toll the relationship took on her. She said she endured what she called “narcissistic abuse” for two years and that the experience left her feeling like she was shrinking as a person.
The actress said the relationship moved very quickly. After just one or two dates, her former partner introduced her to his family. Within three months, his family started talking about an engagement. Anupama said she rejected the engagement proposal and asked for more time. She also responded to people who called her a “gold digger,” saying that if she had not rejected the engagement, her marriage would have ended in divorce.
Anupama Parameswaran Compared Her Ex to the Movie Character Anniyan
Anupama Parameswaran used a very relatable comparison to explain what she went through. She compared her former partner to the character Anniyan from the 2005 Tamil movie starring Vikram. In the film, the main character has three different personalities: Remo (a romantic and charming person), Anniyan (a ruthless vigilante), and Ambi (a simple, apologetic man).
“A very funny kind of explanation, but for people who don’t know about narcissistic abuse, imagine having Anniyan in your life. One day, he’s Remo, like you would feel, how lucky am I to get a person in my life? Is this even reality? It’s like a dream. The next day, you would see Anniyan.”
Anupama explained that the person could be incredibly loving and charming one day, and then become cruel and dismissive the next. She said things would get so bad that the person would not even react if she was “stabbed to death”. But then, he would come back apologizing, begging, and crying like a baby, promising to change. This cycle of love bombing, cruelty, and apologies went on and on.
The actress said living with this kind of behavior meant she could never predict how her partner would react. She had to rehearse what to say before speaking because she never knew which version of him she would face. She described it as “walking on eggshells” all the time.
She Was Not Allowed to Promote Dragon, One of Her Biggest Films
One of the most shocking revelations Anupama Parameswaran made was about her film Dragon. The movie was released in 2025 and became one of the most successful projects of her career. But fans noticed that she did not promote the film much at the time. Now, she has finally explained why.
“Why did I not promote a movie like Dragon? That was one of the most successful films in my career. You will have to let go of so many projects you do.”
Anupama said her former partner did not allow her to promote Dragon. She explained that the control over her career was very indirect. She said, “This is not direct cutoff. It is very indirect. They make us cut ourselves off from our own people and our own lives”.
The actress said she had to turn down many projects because of the relationship. She described how the control slowly crept into her professional life. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already deeply in love and mentally fixed on the idea that this was the person she would spend her life with.
The Actress Was Forced to Dress Conservatively and Seek Permission for Everything
Anupama Parameswaran also spoke about how her former partner controlled what she wore. She said the transition into controlling behavior was “slow and silent”. She went from wearing jeans and a top to dressing more conservatively because he praised her for being “controlled and classy”.
The situation got so bad that Anupama had to send pictures of her outfits to her partner for approval before she could go out. She also had to seek permission before posting anything on Instagram. She said, “By that time, you’re deeply in love, because families are talking. I stayed in their family, and that person has stayed in mine. It’s all serious; you’re mentally fixed on the idea that this is the person you spend your life with. That’s when the control becomes more direct”.
The actress said the control extended to every part of her life. She was expected to send photographs of her outfits for approval, and even her social media posts were monitored. She became increasingly isolated and deliberately distanced herself from friends and family because she feared they would recognize the situation and ask her to leave.
The Relationship Took a Severe Toll on Her Mental and Physical Health
Anupama Parameswaran described the relationship as physically and emotionally destructive. She said she lost a significant amount of weight and cried almost every night. She took medication for anxiety and experienced frequent panic attacks, even while working.
She said she stopped smiling, avoided eye contact, and became hesitant even about showing physical affection towards her brother because she feared how her partner might react. She described feeling as though she was gradually erasing parts of her own personality to keep the relationship alive.
“Narcissistic abuse happens very quietly. People think narcissists love themselves, but they actually hate themselves and are insecure… what they want is someone they can control.”
Anupama explained that narcissistic abuse can be difficult to identify because it does not always involve shouting or physical aggression. The relationship began with intense love bombing, with affection and attention gradually turning into control and emotional manipulation. She said narcissistic individuals can be extremely convincing in public, appearing gentle, charming, and kind. This can leave victims feeling even more confused because people around them may find it difficult to believe what happens behind closed doors.
Cryptic Social Media Posts That Hinted at the Truth
Anupama Parameswaran had been dropping hints about her situation for weeks before she spoke publicly. In July 2026, she returned to Instagram after months of silence with a photo dump. Her caption read: “Turns out, when you don’t have to wait for approvals, a song selection, or someone else’s caption… posting becomes a lot more fun”.
In another post, she wrote, “Sometimes, you have to let go of the dead ends to finally find your peace” and added, “And today, peace found me”. She also wrote, “No more permissions. No more fear”.
“Sometimes, you have to let go of the dead ends to finally find your peace. And today, peace found me. From today, I choose my voice. I choose my life. No more permissions. No more fear. Just me, finding my way back to myself and falling in love with the life I almost forgot was mine.”
Anupama said these posts were not made randomly. She said there were two years of pain, physical and emotional destruction, behind that one post. She waited until she had actually healed before posting anything.
Fans Speculate About Dhruv Vikram
While Anupama Parameswaran did not name her former partner, fans and media have been speculating that she was referring to actor Dhruv Vikram, the son of legendary actor Chiyaan Vikram.
Anupama and Dhruv Vikram were rumored to be dating in early 2025 while they were shooting for Mari Selvaraj’s film Bison Kaalamaadan. An unverified picture of them kissing began circulating, and fans claimed to have found it as the display picture for their shared Spotify playlist. Neither actor ever publicly confirmed their relationship.
Interestingly, Anupama compared her ex to the character Anniyan, which was played by Dhruv’s father, Chiyaan Vikram. This has led many to believe she was indeed talking about Dhruv Vikram. However, the actress has not confirmed this. Earlier this month, she refused to talk about the situation at the teaser launch of Crazy Kalyanam.
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Anupama Parameswaran’s Career and Recent Work
Anupama Parameswaran started her career with the Malayalam film Premam in 2015, which became a huge hit. She has since worked in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. Some of her notable movies include Karthikeya 2, Tillu Square, and Jathi Ratnalu.
Her Tamil film Dragon, which released in 2025, was a major success. She also worked on Bison Kaalamaadan with Dhruv Vikram. Despite the professional success, she was dealing with personal struggles behind the scenes.
Anupama said she deliberately waited to speak out publicly until she had taken time to heal, regain her voice, and feel stable. She expressed gratitude to her family, friends, and fans who supported her through the ordeal, affirming that she is now focusing on her healing, freedom, and personal growth.
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