Putting an end to speculation, Saina Nehwal made it clear that their association was strictly professional and that they never shared a personal friendship beyond the film.
The biopic Saina, released in 2021, featured Parineeti Chopra portraying the life and journey of Saina Nehwal, from her early struggles to becoming one of India’s most celebrated badminton players. While Parineeti Chopra received praise for her dedication and performance, the film itself received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office. Over time, social media users noticed that Parineeti Chopra did not follow Saina Nehwal on Instagram, sparking curiosity and speculation about their relationship.
Saina Nehwal on the Instagram buzz
In a recent conversation on his YouTube channel, Subhojit Ghosh finally got Saina Nehwal to react to the social media chatter. She said she was not even aware of the Instagram discussion for a long time and had never given it any importance.
Saina Nehwal explained that her life has always been extremely busy with training, tournaments, and professional commitments. According to her, she never paid close attention to social media activity. She said the issue of following or unfollowing someone never crossed her mind.
Addressing the bond she shared with Parineeti Chopra, Saina Nehwal clearly stated that they never became friends. She said their interactions were limited and entirely work-related. During the preparation of the film, Saina Nehwal spoke to Parineeti Chopra as a professional, sharing details about her life, struggles, mindset, and journey in badminton.
“It was never about forming a friendship,” Saina Nehwal shared. She added that whatever conversations they had were focused on helping Parineeti Chopra understand her life better so she could portray the role honestly on screen.
“It was completely professional.”
Saina Nehwal further explained that she and Parineeti Chopra met only a few times during the making of the film. These meetings usually happened once every few weeks and lasted for an hour or two. Most of the time, the director was also present during these sessions.
She said she was deeply involved in her training and competitions, leaving her with very little free time. Because of this, there were no personal outings, lunches, or dinners together. According to Saina Nehwal, they never spent enough time together to build a personal bond or friendship.
She also clarified that since they were not close friends, there was no reason to be concerned about social media follows. For her, the relationship was limited to discussing her badminton journey, mindset, and experiences so that Parineeti Chopra could prepare for the role.
At present, neither Saina Nehwal nor Parineeti Chopra follows the other on Instagram, something Saina Nehwal considers completely normal given the nature of their association.
