Actress Anupama Parameswaran has spoken for the first time about a difficult period in her personal life where she revealed that she went through what she described as two years of “narcissistic abuse” in a past relationship. The actress did not name the person involved but her comments have attracted attention following an emotional Instagram post that had sparked speculation about a possible breakup. The post came amid long-standing rumours linking Anupama with actor Dhruv Vikram, with speculation about the two dating having circulated since 2025.
Anupama spoke about the experience during an appearance on the I AM With Dhanya Varma podcast. She explained that the post was not written suddenly or without thought. According to the actress, it came after two years of physical and emotional pain.
“There are two years of pain, physical and emotional destruction behind that one post,” she said.
Why Did Anupama Parameswaran Speak About ‘Narcissistic Abuse’?
While speaking on the I AM With Dhanya Varma podcast, Anupama said she wanted to discuss her experience because she hoped it could create awareness about “narcissistic abuse.”
She recalled that she first came across the term after watching actress Madonna Sebastian speak about narcissistic abuse in an Instagram reel. Anupama said she had a strong physical reaction when she heard the description because she recognised similarities with what she had experienced herself.
She said she started shivering as she realised that the term applied to her own situation.
Anupama also spoke about the different kinds of people who encounter conversations around narcissistic abuse. Some may have personally experienced it, while others may have watched someone close to them go through it. There are also people who may have heard the term but do not completely understand it.
She said some people may make assumptions or post negative comments without knowing the full circumstances. But the group she particularly wanted to reach was people who are currently experiencing narcissistic abuse without realising that they are in such a situation.
She described them as “the most dangerous category.”
‘I Was Crying Every Single Night’
Anupama went on to describe how the relationship affected her emotionally and physically. She said she gradually started to “shrink” instead of growing as an individual.
The actress revealed that she lost a significant amount of weight during those two years and felt that she was slowly losing herself.
“I was crying every single night,” she said.
She also described what she felt was a repeated emotional cycle within the relationship. To explain it, Anupama used characters from the Tamil film Anniyan.
She said there could be days when the person behaved like Remo who made her feel extremely fortunate to have them in her life. On another day, the person could become like Anniyan, showing a completely different and brutal side.
She then described the person returning with apologies, begging and promises that the behaviour would not happen again. According to Anupama, this could be followed by crying, affection and “love-bombing”, before the same pattern started again.
Anupama’s decision to speak about the experience comes after an emotional Instagram post in which she wrote about letting go of “dead ends” to finally find peace. The post led to speculation that she had gone through a breakup.
Rumours connecting Anupama with actor Dhruv Vikram have circulated since 2025. But neither Anupama nor Dhruv has confirmed that they were in a relationship. The actress also did not name anyone while discussing the two years she described on the podcast.
In another Instagram post, Anupama wrote, “I choose my voice. I choose my life. No more permissions. No more fear.”
Who Is Anupama Parameswaran?
Born on February 18, 1996, in Irinjalakuda, Kerala, Anupama is one of the familiar faces of contemporary South Indian cinema. She began her acting career with Malayalam cinema before moving into Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films.
Anupama is the daughter of Parameswaran Erekkath and Sunitha Parameswaran and has a younger brother, Akshay. She studied at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School and later joined CMS College Kottayam. But she eventually left college to pursue a career in acting.
Her breakthrough came in 2015 with Premam where she played Mary George alongside Nivin Pauly and Sai Pallavi. The film became a major success. Her performance also helped establish her as a young actor to watch in Malayalam cinema.
She soon moved beyond Malayalam films and began working across different South Indian industries.
In 2016, Anupama appeared in the Telugu film A Aa and also made her Tamil debut with Kodi in which she starred alongside Dhanush. She subsequently appeared in films including Sathamanam Bhavati, Natasaarvabhowma, Ninnu Kori, Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi and Rakshasudu.
Her career received another boost with the Telugu film Karthikeya 2 released in 2022. The film became a commercial success and reached audiences beyond the Telugu market. Anupama later starred in 18 Pages and, in 2024, appeared in Tillu Square opposite Siddhu Jonnalagadda.
Apart from acting, she has also explored other aspects of filmmaking. In 2020, Anupama worked as an assistant director on Maniyarayile Ashokan. Over the years, she has also received recognition at award platforms including IIFA Utsavam, the Apsara Awards and Zee Cine Awards Telugu.
Her filmography includes Premam, A Aa, Kodi, Natasaarabhowma, Karthikeya 2 and Tillu Square, among other projects.
