'Yes, I’m marrying Shruthi'

He was Shruthi’s campaign manager, he wrote her speeches, and will now direct her in a powerful feminist film and says he will marry her in another two months.Chakravarthy, formerly Chandrachud, a journalist-turned-director, calls himself the actor’s confidante and best friend.

“I’ve known Shruthi for over 25 years. We’re from the same taluk in Hassan, we’re both Vishwakarmas and our mothers are related. But it is not these similarities that got us together. We are soulmates,” says Chakravarthy. The filmmaker, who is currently busy with the post production of his debut effort Janma, plans on directing Shruthi after his film releases. “Yes, I’m marrying Shruthi. But, I’ll wait till her divorce comes through,” says Chakravarthy, quickly adding, “I’m not the reason why Shruthi’s getting divorced. She had her own reasons for that.” The already-married lover promises to look after Shruthi and her daughter.

However, sources close to Shruthi’s husband, S Mahender, have another story to tell. “Chakravarthy’s been someone who’s become extremely close to Shruthi, especially after she got into politics. When she became the State Women’s Development Chairperson, she went to the office in a car with Chakravarthy, and asked Mahender to take the next one, slamming the door on him,” says our source. “Shruthi has all the property — a bungalow and their cars in her name. Mahender has nowhere to go but his hometown Mysore, where he has been crying his heart out to close friends,” adds the source.