Samantha Ruth Prabhu Gets Candid About Career Setbacks Before Maa Inti Bangaaram Success: Seen Worst Low…

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has addressed one of the most difficult phases of her career, saying she was aware that many people had written her off after a long gap from films, health struggles and a run of underwhelming releases. Speaking at the success meet of Maa Inti Bangaaram in Hyderabad, the actor said the film’s response felt significant because it came after a period when she had questioned her place in the industry.

The actor is currently celebrating what she described as a “triple success” phase, with Maa Inti Bangaaram performing well, her marriage to filmmaker Raj Nidimoru and her pregnancy drawing public attention. But Samantha said the applause had arrived after years in which she had faced personal and professional setbacks, including illness, fewer releases and doubts about whether audiences would still accept her as a leading actor.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she was written off during her break

At the event, Samantha said taking up Maa Inti Bangaaram was not an easy decision. She described it as a risk, but one she felt was necessary to avoid being limited by industry expectations. The film’s success, she suggested, had given her a chance to challenge the narrative that her career had slowed beyond recovery.

“Everybody congratulates me on my triple success today, but I've seen the worst lows, and I've seen many people write me off and cancel me. Saying, Samantha aipoindi (is done). It'll be difficult to see her as a heroine. It didn't discourage me, but that was the truth for a certain period of time. Personally, I've always been someone who fights back. This was a challenge I took up. I wanted to fight back, I wanted to give it my all. I was supported so well to give my best,” she said.

Her comments reflected the pressure that stars often face when momentum breaks in a film industry where visibility matters. Samantha had been among the busiest actors in Telugu and Tamil cinema for years, with multiple releases in several phases of her career. A sudden slowdown, combined with health concerns, made the gap more noticeable.

When a reporter noted that the film’s success proved audiences still wanted to watch her, Samantha explained why she had felt uncertain. She said there was a sharp contrast between her earlier pace of work and the three-year period in which she had very few screen appearances.

“I did not have films for three years, when I used to have at least three releases per year. Out of them, at least one would be a blockbuster. So, when you're in that race, suddenly, for three years, there was sickness, health issues, no films, and anyone would believe whatever happens. It's a moment of weakness; you question everything. You question what is possible, what is the truth? There will be moments of lows for anyone. Whether you choose to live in that low or you choose to overcome it,” she said.

Why Maa Inti Bangaaram matters for Samantha’s career

Maa Inti Bangaaram has become a key film for Samantha because it marks her return to a central space in cinema after a quieter period. The film has grossed ₹50 crore worldwide in less than a week, giving her a commercial success at a time when attention around her personal life is also high.

The success meet also became a rare moment where Samantha directly linked her professional comeback with her private battles. Rather than presenting the phase as a simple return to form, she acknowledged the insecurity that came with being away from regular film work and dealing with health issues in the public eye.

Samantha was last seen in the 2023 films Shaakuntalam and Kushi before taking a break from films. Shaakuntalam, a mythological drama, grossed ₹11 crore worldwide, while Kushi, co-starring Vijay Deverakonda, earned ₹76 crore worldwide. After that, her major screen appearance came through the 2024 Prime Video series Citadel: Honey Bunny.

For a star who had built a steady presence across Telugu and Tamil cinema, the pause changed the rhythm of her career. Samantha’s remarks make it clear that the gap was not merely strategic. It was also shaped by health, recovery and the need to reassess her professional choices.

Health, personal life and a new phase

Samantha publicly revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune condition. She has previously spoken about the discipline required during treatment, including diet, fitness and lifestyle changes. Her health update came at a time when she was also navigating intense public scrutiny after her separation from Naga Chaitanya.

Samantha and Naga Chaitanya married in 2017 after years of being in a relationship. They announced their separation in 2021. The years that followed placed the actor under constant attention, with discussions around her personal life often running alongside conversations about her film choices and career graph.

In December 2025, Samantha and Raj Nidimoru made their relationship official through a yogic ceremony at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. At the Maa Inti Bangaaram press meet, Samantha also confirmed that she is expecting her first child and said she will go on maternity leave.

Her decision to step away again for maternity leave comes at a time when Maa Inti Bangaaram has restored conversation around her box-office standing. For fans, the film’s success has underlined her continued audience pull. For Samantha, it appears to have marked a personal and professional reset after a long period of uncertainty.

Samantha’s latest remarks stand out because they avoid the usual comeback narrative. She did not deny the difficult phase or pretend the doubts did not exist. Instead, she framed Maa Inti Bangaaram as the result of choosing to return despite those doubts, with the film’s reception giving her a strong closing note before her next personal break.