The blockbuster Telugu film Pushpa: The Rise is known for more than just Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil’s performances. The hit item song Oo Antava, which featured Samantha Ruth Prabhu, was also an instant hit. The actor revealed that she received the offer while separated from her ex-husband, actor Naga Chaitanya and that her close family and friends advised her not to accept it. Her first instinct was to accept it because she didn’t want to sit at home amid all the negative press.
The actor’s next film will be Shaakuntalam, in which she will play the title character opposite Dev Mohan’s king Dushyanta. Samantha has been picky about the projects she appears in since her divorce in 2021. Her cameo in Pushpa’s item number was the first thing she chose after her divorce was announced. Her family and close friends thought she should not have pursued it.
Samantha stated in an interview with Miss Malini that she did not want to hide away during her divorce proceedings. “When I was offered ‘Oo Antava,’ it was in the middle of our separation [from Naga],” she explained. Following the announcement, every well-wisher and family member said, “You will sit at home, you will not do an item song just because you have announced your separation.” Even my friends, who were always encouraging me to push myself, told me, “Do not do an item song.” But I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to do it.’
“I just thought, ‘Why should I hide?'” she continued. Nothing went wrong with me. I wasn’t going to wait for all of the trolling, abuse, and hatred to fade away and slowly creep back in like a criminal. That was not going to happen. My marriage did not work out even though I gave it my all. But I wasn’t going to beat myself up or feel bad about something I hadn’t done.”
Samantha will also appear alongside Vijay Deverakonda in the Telugu film Kushi. It will be released on September 1, 2023, and was written and directed by Shiva Nirvana. She is currently filming with Varun Dhawan for the Indian adaptation of the Prime Video series Citadel. Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, also known as Raj and DK, direct the series. She had previously collaborated with the filmmakers on the second season of The Family Man, where she played the antagonist.
