Showing posts with label Samantha Ruth Prabhu interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samantha Ruth Prabhu interview. Show all posts
Women in sarees came up to me saying they loved the action in Maa Inti Bangaaram-Samantha
10:11 AM
Samantha, who confirmed her pregnancy publicly on Wednesday night, talks about taking a maternity break on a professional high, the success of her latest movie, and teaming up with husband
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 26, 2026)
With the success of Maa Inti Bangaaram and motherhood on the horizon, actor Samantha says she is stepping into her maternity break with a sense of fulfilment rather than urgency: “I am taking my maternity break on a professional high. It’s time to soak it all in and I’ll be back when I’m back. I want my return to be with something big.”
The actor, who is expecting her first child with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru, adds that she has no fixed timeline for returning to work. “I’m not putting that pressure on myself. I’m not running any race or pressed for time. I’ll see how it goes.”
The success of her latest female-led commercial action entertainer has also brought her a newfound calm. “I hadn’t had a theatrical release in three years, so there was naturally pressure. But now I feel much calmer. I’ve realized I don’t need to keep delivering films back-to-back. Whenever I do release a film, I just want it to be worthwhile.”
Working with husband Raj, who served as the film’s creator and stunt director, also helped her push herself as an action star. “He knows my strengths and weaknesses because he introduced me to action with The Family Man 2. The biggest challenge this time was handling guns and doing action in sarees, which gave it a fresh flavour.”
One reaction, she admits, surprised her the most: “I assumed older women would talk about the family drama or comedy. Instead, women in sarees came up to me saying they loved the action. That was a really special feeling.”
Despite the film finding audiences beyond Telugu-speaking regions, Samantha insists it was never conceived as a pan-India project. She says, “We wanted to make a good Telugu film first. It’s rooted in Telugu nostalgia and history, so it didn’t feel right to force it on a wider audience... Now that we know we’ve struck a chord, maybe the next project can be more ambitious and travel pan-India.”
Everyday I wake up and pray that there is no trigger-Samantha
9:25 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 26, 2026)
Samantha is embracing a season of new beginnings after a transformative chapter in her life. Diagnosed with myositis in 2022, the autoimmune condition compelled the actress to slow down, reassess her priorities and rebuild both personally and professionally. Fresh off the release of Maa Inti Bangaram, which marks her return to the big screen after a three-year hiatus, Samantha reflects on living with myositis, the lessons it taught her and a new personal milestone — expecting her first child with filmmaker husband Raj Nidimoru.
‘There is this tiny fear about not having enough energy to make it through the day’
Samantha says life after myositis has fundamentally altered her relationship with work and with her own body. “Everyday I wake up and pray that there is no trigger and that I have the energy and strength to shoot through the day. There is this tiny fear about not having enough energy to make it through the day. When I was first offered Maa Inti Bangaram, I was petrified. I didn’t know if I would be able to do it or if my body would allow it. When you have certain restrictions and constraints, you make the most of every single day.”
Crediting Raj for the film’s success, she adds, “If today this is being called my film, it is because Raj crafted and created the story to fit my strengths and help me shine.”
‘This is a really great phase of my life’
While she is high on the success of her recent release, what is occupying her mind space now is her pregnancy. She confirms that she is preparing to step away from work for a while. “This is a really great phase of my life and I’m looking forward to a maternity break.”
She adds, “While I might not be seen on screen for a while, I have many films to produce and other businesses that I need to take care of. So in that sense, I’m not entirely taking a break from work.”
‘You can be on top of the world one day & down the next’
In a recent interview, Samantha also reflected on how fame and success once changed her, admitting that she had become “egoistic” at a certain point in her career. Her battle with myositis and the forced pause that followed, helped her get a fresh perspective.
“In this industry, you can be down in the dumps one day and on top of the world another day. So it is very important to remember the days — the good days and the dark days — while you bask in this success. Remember how hard it has been to get there and remember it can also go all away one Friday. For me, the success and validation that has come with this film has given me renewed strength to keep going forward.”
I haven’t had a film release 2 two years, don’t have a 1,000-cr film, but I am happiest I have ever been-Samantha
9:31 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 11, 2025)
Actor Samantha got candid about living with myositis, a rare autoimmune condition, at the All India Management Association’s 52nd National Management Convention in Delhi on Tuesday, saying it has reshaped her life and priorities. The 38-year-old asserted that she’s putting her health over her career and is no longer interested in the rat race.
“The previous version of me probably had five films releasing in a year because that was the symbol of a successful actor… You needed to have five films, a big blockbuster, and you had to be on the list of top 10 actors. That was needed to be endorsing the biggest multinational brands. Today, I haven’t had a film release in two years, and I am not on any lists. I don’t have any Rs. 1,000-crore film, but I am the happiest I have ever been,” she said.
This shift has also changed how Samantha approaches brand endorsements. “I don’t endorse any of the big brands I used to as a symbol of status. In return, I invested in brands that I believe to be clean, transparent and effective, because I believe this is what I leave behind,” she explained.
“I was so fragile,” Samantha admitted, as she reflected on how the pressures of a competitive industry triggered constant anxiety, adding, “Every Friday would change and give me anxiety that someone will claim my position tomorrow, that I would be replaced. My whole self-worth was based on the calculator of that Friday.”
Making small but meaningful changes to her life has been helpful. She said, “Keeping a gratitude journal for one year changed my whole personality. From someone who was always looking for what’s going to go wrong, always fearing how I am going to mess up… If there was success, I would forget it the next day, but failure would stay for a long time. A year later, today, my whole attitude towards failure and hiccups has changed.”
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It’s a wonderful feeling to wake up every day, and be able to cherry pick meaty roles on a pan India level-Samantha Ruth Prabhu
8:33 AM
Samantha, who is nominated in the Best Actor: Series category at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards, discusses how she initially had an “element of doubt” about giving her nod to The Family Man 2
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 24, 2022)
Once in a while, an artiste, if lucky, comes across a project that changes their trajectory. For Samantha, the second season of The Family Man was that project. In the eight months since the popular spy thriller dropped online, the actor has become a pan-India star. When we sit down for a chat with Samantha — who is nominated in the Best Actor (Female): Series category at the third season of the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards — we begin with how her life has changed post the success of the Amazon Prime Video series. “It certainly has opened many doors for me in Hindi cinema. There has been no dearth of interesting scripts from Bollywood. It’s a wonderful feeling to wake up every day, and be able to cherry-pick meaty roles on a pan-India level,” she beams.
The actor came on board to play Raji, a Sri Lankan Tamil rebel, even before the first edition of the Manoj Bajpayee-led series became successful. For a star, to dedicate a bulk of dates to one project can be viewed as a risky decision. Did she have second thoughts? “The debate that raged in my mind was over a different reason. I am a risk-taker, so I was interested in taking on this role. But I was scared and had an element of doubt initially because I wasn’t sure whether I could pull off this part. Raji was unlike anything I had attempted in the past. I’m glad that I was able to rise beyond my initial fear, and get into the skin of the character.”
A female star taking the leap of faith can often be a cue for well-meaning people to advise her to stick to the industry norms. Fortunately, she found support from her close ones. “Everyone around me was keen that I do this show. They had more confidence in my acting chops [than I did]. I was the one who was scared, while my well-wishers egged me on to go for it. This show has made me more confident about myself and my craft.”
A conversation about the Raj-DK creation cannot be complete without dissecting Raji. While some view her as an antagonist, many see her as a woman trying to fight for a cause she truly believes in. Where does Samantha stand on the debate? “I was drawn to the role of Raji because I deeply empathised with her trauma, and the rage she felt at the injustice that had been meted out to her people. While I can’t defend the path she chose, I know there had been many discussions regarding the climax of the show. What was ultimately shown was the perfect denouement to the series.”
Cast your vote for the Hitlist OTT Awards
Samantha has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female): Series category for The Family Man S02.
The other nominees are:
- Huma Qureshi (Maharani)
- Mithila Palkar (Little Things S04)
- Pooja Bhatt (Bombay Begums)
- Ridhi Dogra (The Married Woman)
- Surveen Chawla (Decoupled)
- Sushmita Sen (Aarya S02)
- Zoya Hussain (Grahan)
Log on to www.radiocity.in/hitlistawards to cast your vote.
You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c as on the website) to 57575.
Voting lines close on March 18.
Did you know?
Samantha trained hard and performed the stunts without employing a body double for the Raj-DK creation.
I was tired of playing the cute girl in films-Samantha Ruth Prabhu
9:03 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 31, 2021)
Her grey character in the recent web show, The Family Man, where she was seen along with Manoj Bajpayee, became a talking point. South star Samantha Ruth Prabhu is at the cusp of making inroads into the Hindi film industry. The actress spoke to BT about why she’s more open to Bollywood now and how OTT platforms are helping erase boundaries between different film industries in our country. Excerpts:
With a flourishing career down South, you’ve now begun to attract the attention of Bollywood filmmakers, especially after your performance in the Manoj Bajpayee-led web series The Family Man. Are you all geared up for Bollywood?
I had never thought I would do a web series, but that changed with Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK’s show. I am learning to say never say never. The appreciation I received was more than what I had expected. I feel I have the confidence to accept newer challenges now.
Why did you keep a distance from Bollywood for so long?
I was finding my footing in the South and gained confidence in my work only in the last two years. I was still making bad choices and not doing the kind of work that satisfied me. Things changed a great deal in the last two years, and now, I am confident about accepting challenges. I don’t try everything and then see what works. I usually take time to perfect something before moving on to another challenge. That’s why it has taken me this long to get this far.
As an artiste, how do you perceive the current scenario as far as content is concerned? Do you find lines blurring between different industries?
I think it is a great time to be an artiste. The lines are blurring, and the opportunities are a lot more. I love the place we are in now, which is so encouraging for artistes from other industries.
Do you feel OTT platforms have helped erase stereotypes attached to artistes from various film industries?
Yes, for sure. I don’t think I would get a role as dark and layered as Raji in my recent web show, in a commercial film. I would never have had that chance. Because of OTT platforms, risky, unique, varied, interesting and provocative roles have an audience. I believe that this has opened up the playfield for actors who were typecast in the past. I was tired of playing the cute girl in every other film, and I believe I am not capable of doing that anymore. Actors like me are capable of a lot more and can show that when an opportunity presents itself.
A couple of your films, like U-Turn, are being remade in Hindi. What’s your take on them? Do remakes draw your attention?
I have done quite a few remakes in the past, but now I am not in the mood for more. I believe there is always a great script around the corner, waiting for me. I want to go out there and look for it instead of going for a remake.
How do you plan to ring in the New Year, given that 2021 was loaded with challenges for you in every space?
I have a great bunch of friends who have kept me solid throughout the year. So, I look forward to spending time with them, my dogs and most importantly, my mother. I think that will be great.
I felt like a newcomer after watching Alia Bhatt in Dear Zindagi-Samantha Ruth Prabhu
7:57 AM
Top South actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Alia Bhatt in Dear Zindagi
Subhash K Jha (DNA; December 8, 2016)
One of Tamil and Telugu cinema’s most successful actresses Samantha Ruth Prabhu can’t stop raving about Alia Bhatt after seeing her in Dear Zindagi.
“I felt like a newcomer after watching her,” says the actress, who has been playing the lead since 2010 in Tamil and Telugu films.
“I suddenly see all of us must pull up our socks and work harder. Alia has brought in so much freshness to the screen. She is an absolute natural. I just want her to know that I will be watching her film carefully in future.”
Samantha who has been offered roles in Hindi cinema has so far resisted the temptation. “I didn’t want to be sucked into the abyss. Bollywood is very addictive. And it slots you for life. I’d rather have my freedom to do what I want to, to play who I want.” But now, with films like Dear Zindagi happening in Bollywood Samantha may take the plunge.
Samantha feels the time is right for actresses to attempt various characters in a different performing idiom. “No one comes to me with conventional roles. I think those are dying out,” she says.
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