‘I keep joking she should teach me’: Naga Chaitanya on falling in love with Sobhita Dhulipala’s Telugu; how cultural similarities with partners help

Having grown up speaking multiple languages—including Tamil and English—Chaitanya was deeply moved when he heard Dhulipala speak Telugu with such ease. “I keep joking that she should teach me, pass on all that intelligence,” he said.

For Dhulipala, speaking Telugu with Chaitanya was more than just a conversation—it felt like a piece of home. “In Mumbai, I got so used to speaking other languages that I’d forgotten what it felt like to speak Telugu with someone beyond my parents and relatives. Talking to him in a language I associate with home was special…When I’m really happy or sad, it’s Telugu in my head. I think in Telugu.”

But what makes this connection so powerful? Counselling psychologist Priyamvada Tendulkar explains how language and cultural familiarity can deepen relationships and help individuals rediscover lost parts of their identity.

“Cultural similarities between partners create a unique sense of belonging, emotional safety, and deep-rooted connection—especially for individuals who have felt distant from their heritage. For someone like Naga Chaitanya—who didn’t grow up immersed in Telugu—it makes sense that he finds emotional comfort in hearing it spoken by a partner. This reflects deeper psychological needs tied to identity, familiarity, and emotional resonance,” she said.

 

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She further explains that relationships thrive when they allow partners to reconnect with lost or underdeveloped aspects of their identity. When someone has been distanced from their cultural roots—whether due to upbringing, migration, or personal history—finding a partner who naturally integrates that culture can feel like coming home.

“Love generally deepens when it aligns with our core identity and emotional landscape. A relationship that helps bridge the gap between one’s past and present fosters psychological integration, allowing a person to reconnect with a part of themselves that may have felt incomplete,” according to Tendulkar.

In this case, language isn’t just a tool for communication—it’s an emotional thread linking past, present, and self-discovery. It allows Chaitanya to reconnect with his roots organically and affectionately.

“A partner’s fluency in a language can act as a gentle invitation to rediscover one’s roots without pressure—just through love and presence,” Tendulkar notes. “It’s the feeling of a kindred spirit or helping someone rediscover something hitherto lost or disconnected. Love can help deepen our connection with ourselves.”