Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently shared her gratitude for her professional life, which she says has helped keep her grounded over the past few years, despite facing health concerns and a high-profile divorce from fellow Telugu star Naga Chaitanya in 2021.
In October of last year, Prabhu revealed that she had been diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune condition that can cause muscle weakness. Despite the difficulties she faced, Prabhu believes that her work has provided her with a sense of grounding and energy to persevere.
“I think there is a lot going in my life in the last two-and-a-half years but my work really grounds and centers me. It gives me the energy to keep going,” she shared in a recent interview with PTI. “And, I usually don’t let things affect my work, unless I am unable to get out of bed, which was the case for the last few months.”
Prabhu expressed her gratitude for the production teams who supported her during this difficult time, enabling her to get back on her feet and return to work on the upcoming film “Shaakuntalam”. The film, based on poet Kalidasa’s acclaimed Sanskrit play “Abhigyan Shakuntalam”, is written and directed by award-winning director Gunasekhar and stars Dev Mohan alongside Prabhu.
Prabhu believes that “Shaakuntalam” will connect with audiences through its complex human emotions and timeless story, despite its mythological origins. “With this film, there is intense pressure but I believe if the film is good, it will be accepted very well by the audience. It is more than just grand sets, great designs, costumes, and grandeur,” she shared.
The actor went on to praise the film’s contemporary retelling of the ancient love story, stating that it remains relevant and relatable to modern audiences. “It is a movie that is rich in our culture, it’s been in our books, but at the same time it is made in a contemporary fashion, so it is relatable and at the center of it. It is a love story, everyone loves a really good love story,” she added.
Prabhu also spoke about her character of Shakuntala, who challenged societal norms in the fifth century, and how her beliefs and experiences still resonate with women today. “Even though it was written in as early as the fifth century, her beliefs like going against societal norms, and the way she faced adversity with grace and dignity, is still aspirational, it is still relevant. It is something that even a contemporary woman of today looks up to.”
Finally, Prabhu shared her perspective on love and gratitude, stating that she feels blessed to be surrounded by people who love and encourage her in moments of weakness. “Love doesn’t always have to be with the partner, it is all around us. There is so much love to give. In fact, I am more enriched with love these days and I felt it a little stronger especially in moments of great weakness,” she shared.
“Shaakuntalam” is set to release on April 14 in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, and is presented by Dil Raju via Sri Venkateswara Creations in collaboration with Gunaa Teamworks and produced by Neelima Guna. The film also stars Sachin Khedekar, Kabir Bedi, Dr. M Mohan Babu, Prakash Raj, Madhubala, Gautami, Aditi Balan, Ananya Nagalla, and Jisshu Sengupta.