Despite going their separate ways in 2021, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya appear to still be bonded by their shared love for their pet dog, Hash. A recent Instagram story by Chaitanya—showing him working out at the gym with Hash in the background—has rekindled fan speculation that the former couple continues to co-parent their furry companion.

The photo prompted a flurry of activity on Reddit, where users pointed out that Hash, a dog the couple adopted during their marriage, is often seen in both Samantha and Chaitanya’s social media posts. “Even after their separation, I’ve seen Hash with Chaitanya quite a few times,” noted one user, while another added, “That’s the right thing to do. Pets are family.”

Samantha, who currently has three pets—two dogs and a cat—was known to have adopted Hash jointly with Chaitanya during their time together. Observant fans claim that despite the personal distance between them, both actors continue to show affection and care for the dog they once raised as a couple.

The duo, who tied the knot in October 2017 after years of dating, announced their separation four years later. In a past interview, Samantha opened up about the emotional toll that period took on her, describing the year before her autoimmune diagnosis as one of the most difficult in her life.

While both stars have largely moved on—Chaitanya is now reportedly married to actress Sobhita Dhulipala—this subtle connection through Hash has warmed hearts online. Many fans praised the maturity it takes to co-parent a pet post-divorce, with one commenter summing it up: “That’s actually really sweet. That’s commitment.”