Actress Amala Paul has opened up about her journey through emotional hardship, motherhood, and a traditional ritual that symbolised a fresh start in her life.

In an interview with JFW Binge, the actress revealed that she met her husband, Jagat Desai, during a period when she had taken a step back from films to focus on her inner healing. It was spirituality, Amala said, that gave her the strength to recover after going through a mentally exhausting phase. She eventually returned to acting and, during this transformative time, met Jagat in Goa. The two quickly grew close and tied the knot in 2023.

Amala disclosed that she became pregnant just a month or two after meeting Jagat. The couple welcomed their son, whom they named Ilae, a name Amala says completed their bond. "I have had my share of heartbreaks, but now I feel I have found the partner I always wished for," she said.

Amala also shared a moving anecdote about an ancient ritual performed after childbirth. “When you are pregnant, the placenta (or marupillai) travels with you. There used to be a tradition in earlier generations to bury it ceremonially. The symbolism is powerful, it’s like burying all the trauma and negativity the mother carried until that point. It marks a new birth for both the baby and the mother,” she explained.

Amala said it was Jagat who took part in the ritual. “I was still in the hospital when, on the second day after our son was born, Jagat took the placenta and buried it with proper pooja. When he came back, he joked, ‘If I had known about this earlier, I would have used it as a pickup line—Can I bury your placenta?’”

She added with a laugh, “We’ve always spoken about turning our love story into a film. I don’t know if people are ready to accept that as the title, but that’s what I’d want it to be called.”

This is Amala’s second marriage. She was previously married to director AL Vijay in 2014, but the couple parted ways in 2017. Originally from Kerala, Amala gained popularity through Tamil cinema, with the film ‘Mynaa’ marking a major turning point in her career. She later featured in several big-budget productions alongside leading stars. Her most recent film, ‘Level Cross,’ was released recently.