Netizens discuss ethics of surrogacy after Nayanthara-Vignesh Shivan welcome twins
On Sunday evening, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan posted a series of adorable photos and announced the birth of his twin baby boys with his wife and actor Nayanthara. Since then, they received congratulatory messages and best wishes. However, as the couple got hitched in June this year, Twitter is now teeming with a heated discussion about whether the babies were adopted or born through surrogacy.
Why does this story matter?
In his post, Shivan thanked his "ancestors' blessings" and "all the good manifestations made" which converged together for the birth of their "Uyir" and "Ulagam." #Nayanthara began trending immediately and several netizens pointed out that "they must have gone for surrogacy since she is 37." Notably, several Indian celebrities have opted for surrogacy, such as Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Priyanka Chopra.
Here's what Shivan posted
Couple started getting trolled for 'setting a wrong precedent'
The celebrity couple came under the scanner of people who consider surrogacy "unethical" and "unfair"; some pointed out that surrogate mothers are not paid a fair amount. Others also blamed the pair for "setting a wrong precedent in front of the society by not going for natural birth." One such Twitter user wrote, "Ancestors bless in pregnancy, not in practices like surrogacy!!"
Take a look at one such tweet here
Nayanthara also found immense love and support online
Amidst all this trolling, the Godfather actor also found support online. Several netizens were of the opinion that "it's the couple's choice to not reveal whether the babies were born through surrogacy." Some also tweeted that to say Nayanthara did this "to save her beauty" was sexist and insensitive. One fan wrote, "Doesn't matter how this happened, but they are parents now!"
Is surrogacy legal in India?
Indian laws ban commercial surrogacy but allow altruistic surrogacy. Commercial surrogacy "includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy." Altruistic surrogacy "involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy."
Meanwhile, take a look at the couple's fairy tale relationship
Nayan and Shivan were in a relationship for more than six years before finally taking the plunge. They met on the sets of the Tamil film Naanum Rowdy Thaan in 2015. In 2021, Shivan shared a picture that focused on a ring on Nayan's finger, sparking speculations about their engagement. Later, during a talk show, the Aramm actor confirmed that they were indeed engaged.
