‘These are the laws my grandfather put in place’: Upasana Konidela on how her family constitution keeps wealth from becoming a reason to fight; expert on how it helps | Lifestyle News

When families mix emotions with business, conflict over wealth and responsibilities can often follow. 
But for Upasana Konidela, vice chairperson of the CSR wing at Apollo Hospitals and wife of superstar Ram Charan, a long-standing family tradition helps prevent that from happening. On a recent podcast with Masoom Minawala, Upasana revealed how her family has proactively taken steps to avoid monetary disputes. “Us being a family business and a business family, we have a family constitution written as well. We go back to that so that there are no fights over wealth. Wealth should never be the cause for any fight in our family. These are the laws that my grandfather put in place. We fight over smaller things, but the big things are all written and taken care of him,” she said, referring to her grandfather Prathap C. Reddy, founder of Apollo Hospitals.
Upasana also spoke about her personal methods for navigating life’s complexities — drawing from a structured approach that combines writing things down, evaluating solutions, and consulting a life coach. “I write things down, find solutions, check everything once again to see if I’m happy with it, bounce it off my life coach if I’m not confident about the solution. And then, after that, I execute,” she said, adding that this habit has helped her stay grounded despite the pressures of business and public life. 
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Her insights raise important questions on emotional resilience, wealth planning, and the value of professional support in high-stakes family systems.
How effective can a formal family constitution be in preventing money-related disputes?
Neha Cadabam, senior psycholog and executive director at Cadabams Hospitals, tells , “A family constitution can be a very effective psychological anchor, especially in joint or business families where the boundaries between emotional and financial dynamics often blur. clearly articulating shared values, financial protocols, conflict resolution methods, and succession planning, it sets a framework that promotes transparency and minimises ambiguity.”

What makes it particularly powerful is that it isn’t just about legal clauses, she adds, it’s about mutual understanding. A well-structured family constitution ideally includes roles and responsibilities, decision-making hierarchies, and mechanisms for addressing disagreements. When families agree to such a document together, it strengthens a sense of collective accountability.
“Most importantly, it shifts the focus from personal emotions to shared principles when disagreements arise, which can significantly reduce friction and emotional stress,” notes Cadabam. 
Can consulting a life coach help in both personal and professional contexts?
Cadabam states, “High-pressure roles come with a constant stream of complex decisions and emotional demands. Having a life coach offers structured reflection — an opportunity to step back and assess thoughts and actions with clarity.”Story continues below this ad
From a psychological standpoint, she explains that regular coaching can support emotional regulation helping individuals build awareness around their triggers and patterns. It enhances self-efficacy, which in turn improves decision-making and reduces reactive behaviour.
“The coach becomes a neutral sounding board, helping the individual strike a balance between personal goals and professional demands. Over time, this helps create mental resilience, better time management, and more mindful leadership, both at home and at work,” she mentions.