Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the acclaimed actor known for her roles in Telugu and Tamil hits such as Eega, Theri, Rangasthalam, and Mersal, opened up about the challenges of living under constant public gaze during the NDTV World Summit on Thursday. Speaking candidly, she revealed how her personal struggles, from her high-profile separation with ex-husband Naga Chaitanya to her fight against Myositis, a rare autoimmune condition, have unfolded in full public view.
“Anyone who has followed any little part of my journey is very well aware of all the personal struggles, the separation, my illness, everything has been very, very public. It comes with a lot of repercussions, a lot of trolling, a lot of judgement, and you’re constantly judged for being open and vulnerable,” Samantha shared.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu On Being Open About Imperfections
The 38-year-old star emphasised that authenticity is not about having everything figured out. “I don’t think authenticity is the final destination, it is a work in progress. I don’t have everything sorted, I don’t have my life sorted, but I’m able to speak about it. I am not perfect; I might make mistakes, I might stumble, but I’m trying to be better,” she said.
Her statement underlines a refreshing perspective in an era dominated by curated social media personas and celebrity culture.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Warns About the Mental Health Impact of Constant Exposure to Ultra-Rich Lifestyles on Social Media
The actor also spoke about the pressures of social media and the potential negative impact of seeing the ultra-rich lifestyles of celebrities online. “I don’t think there ever existed a time where everyone has access to how the top one per cent of the world lives, their vacations, their homes, their yachts. Someone in a village now has access to that information, and I think that can be really demotivating,” she said.
Samantha urged celebrities and influential figures to use their platforms responsibly. “At a time on social media when you have that kind of access, I believe it is most important now that we also be responsible,” she added.
Ambition Must Come With Purpose and Responsibility, Says Samantha Ruth Prabhu
Speaking on ambition, Samantha emphasised that success should not come at the cost of mental wellbeing. “Ambition should not just run wild. It should come attached with certain responsibility and purpose, and that is why I feel that is very important for the youth today to select their mentors carefully, because that can define their entire life. That can define how stable their mental health is, what they can afford to dream, what they can learn from other people's failures,” she said.
Her words provide valuable guidance to young aspirants navigating fame, career growth, and personal challenges.
How Samantha Ruth Prabhu Found Purpose and Happiness Through Visibility
Samantha also reflected on her meteoric rise from a modest upbringing to becoming a household name overnight with her debut film, 2010’s Telugu hit Ye Maaya Chesave.
“I had nothing, and my family struggled to even put food on the table. And from my first film, it all exploded. I became a star overnight, and there was name, there was fame, there was wealth, there was applause. And to be honest, I didn't know what to do with it because I think authenticity is the sum of your upbringing. And if you are not in balance with that upbringing, there can be turmoil. So I didn't feel that I was worth all of this adulation and applause that I was receiving, and instead of making me happier, it should have made me on top of the world, but it didn't,” she said.
She found fulfilment when she started using her visibility to create value. “That is when I realised that I have found my purpose... so what you do with that visibility and the platform is what matters in the end,” Samantha added.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Explains Why She Took the Bold Step of Performing ‘Oo Antava’ in Pushpa
The actor, who became a nationwide sensation for her performance in the 2021 chartbuster Pushpa: The Rise, particularly for the track Oo Antava, explained why she chose to take on the song.
“I did 'Oo Antava' to see if I could. It was a challenge that I gave myself. I never considered myself to be sexy. No one was ever going to give me a 'bold role'. It was a one-time thing,” she said, highlighting her commitment to artistic exploration over public perception.
Inputs from agencies
“Anyone who has followed any little part of my journey is very well aware of all the personal struggles, the separation, my illness, everything has been very, very public. It comes with a lot of repercussions, a lot of trolling, a lot of judgement, and you’re constantly judged for being open and vulnerable,” Samantha shared.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu On Being Open About Imperfections
The 38-year-old star emphasised that authenticity is not about having everything figured out. “I don’t think authenticity is the final destination, it is a work in progress. I don’t have everything sorted, I don’t have my life sorted, but I’m able to speak about it. I am not perfect; I might make mistakes, I might stumble, but I’m trying to be better,” she said.
Her statement underlines a refreshing perspective in an era dominated by curated social media personas and celebrity culture.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Warns About the Mental Health Impact of Constant Exposure to Ultra-Rich Lifestyles on Social Media
The actor also spoke about the pressures of social media and the potential negative impact of seeing the ultra-rich lifestyles of celebrities online. “I don’t think there ever existed a time where everyone has access to how the top one per cent of the world lives, their vacations, their homes, their yachts. Someone in a village now has access to that information, and I think that can be really demotivating,” she said.
Samantha urged celebrities and influential figures to use their platforms responsibly. “At a time on social media when you have that kind of access, I believe it is most important now that we also be responsible,” she added.
Ambition Must Come With Purpose and Responsibility, Says Samantha Ruth Prabhu
Speaking on ambition, Samantha emphasised that success should not come at the cost of mental wellbeing. “Ambition should not just run wild. It should come attached with certain responsibility and purpose, and that is why I feel that is very important for the youth today to select their mentors carefully, because that can define their entire life. That can define how stable their mental health is, what they can afford to dream, what they can learn from other people's failures,” she said.
Her words provide valuable guidance to young aspirants navigating fame, career growth, and personal challenges.
How Samantha Ruth Prabhu Found Purpose and Happiness Through Visibility
Samantha also reflected on her meteoric rise from a modest upbringing to becoming a household name overnight with her debut film, 2010’s Telugu hit Ye Maaya Chesave.
“I had nothing, and my family struggled to even put food on the table. And from my first film, it all exploded. I became a star overnight, and there was name, there was fame, there was wealth, there was applause. And to be honest, I didn't know what to do with it because I think authenticity is the sum of your upbringing. And if you are not in balance with that upbringing, there can be turmoil. So I didn't feel that I was worth all of this adulation and applause that I was receiving, and instead of making me happier, it should have made me on top of the world, but it didn't,” she said.
She found fulfilment when she started using her visibility to create value. “That is when I realised that I have found my purpose... so what you do with that visibility and the platform is what matters in the end,” Samantha added.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Explains Why She Took the Bold Step of Performing ‘Oo Antava’ in Pushpa
The actor, who became a nationwide sensation for her performance in the 2021 chartbuster Pushpa: The Rise, particularly for the track Oo Antava, explained why she chose to take on the song.
“I did 'Oo Antava' to see if I could. It was a challenge that I gave myself. I never considered myself to be sexy. No one was ever going to give me a 'bold role'. It was a one-time thing,” she said, highlighting her commitment to artistic exploration over public perception.
Inputs from agencies
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