Anupama Parameswaran Opens Up on Enduring Two Years of Narcissistic Abuse

Actor Anupama Parameswaran has opened up about the personal experiences behind a recent social media post that hinted at the end of a relationship. Speaking in an interview with I AM with Dhanya Varma, she revealed that she spent the past two years dealing with what she described as narcissistic abuse. She explained that she chose to speak publicly only after she had begun to heal and felt ready to share her story.

Without disclosing the identity of the individual involved, Anupama stated that a long period of pain and self-reflection preceded her decision to post about the situation. She emphasised that her social media update was not shared impulsively, but was posted once she reached a stage where she could fully acknowledge her experiences.

The Impact of Narcissistic Abuse

“There are two years of pain, physical and emotional destruction, behind that one post,” Anupama said during the interview. She explained that she did not want to make a statement simply for the sake of doing so, but preferred to wait until she had made progress in her personal healing journey.

Anupama explicitly characterised her experience as "narcissistic abuse" and discussed how different people react to the term. She recalled watching an Instagram Reel featuring actor Madonna Sebastian discussing the subject, which affected her so deeply that she began to shake physically.

According to medical definitions, narcissistic abuse involves a pattern of emotional and psychological manipulation where an individual uses control, belittling, or other harmful behaviours to undermine another person's confidence and sense of self. This behaviour often leaves the victim feeling diminished, confused, or emotionally dependent.

Recognising the Signs

Anupama categorised people's understanding of narcissistic abuse into distinct groups. The first category includes those who have suffered from it directly, along with the family and friends who have witnessed their struggle. The second category consists of people who have no knowledge of the issue and have never had to research it.

She identified a third category as those who view the issue through a gender-based lens and post negative comments based on assumptions. Finally, she highlighted a fourth group, which she described as the most vulnerable.

"The next category is to who I want to talk to, those who have been there and haven't identified it yet. That is the most dangerous category," she said.

A Period of Personal Decline

While maintaining the anonymity of the person involved, Anupama described how the relationship severely impacted her sense of self, noting that she felt she was shrinking rather than growing.

“I started to shrink,” she stated, adding that she lost a significant amount of weight during this period. Instead of feeling that she was "blooming", she felt herself gradually diminishing over time.

Her recent remarks provide context to an Instagram post she shared last month, where she wrote about letting go, reclaiming her voice, and finding her way back to herself. In that post, she expressed gratitude to her followers for their messages, prayers, and kindness during a difficult period, while celebrating her healing, freedom, and the decision to choose her own path without living in fear.

Relationship Speculation

Anupama's statements follow longstanding public speculation regarding her relationship with actor Dhruv Vikram. Dating rumours involving the two emerged in early 2025 while they were working together on Mari Selvaraj's film Bison Kaalamaadan.

The rumours intensified after an unverified photograph, which reportedly showed the two kissing, circulated online. Fans also linked them to a shared Spotify playlist that allegedly featured the image.

Their public interactions, including an awards ceremony in Chennai where Anupama referred to Dhruv as her "2 AM call", and a subsequent selfie shared by Dhruv from an event in Mumbai, further fuelled the speculation. The two later became less vocal about each other in public, leading to questions about whether they had separated or chosen to keep their lives private. Neither Anupama nor Dhruv has publicly confirmed the status of their relationship.