Samantha Ruth Prabhu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
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Samantha in 2022
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| Born | 28 April 1987 Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
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| Other names | Samantha Akkineni |
| Alma mater | Stella Maris College, Chennai |
| Occupation | Actress |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Naga Chaitanya
(m. 2017; div. 2021) |
| Awards | Full list |
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Samantha Ruth Prabhu (born 28 April 1987) is a famous Indian actress. She mainly works in Telugu and Tamil films. Samantha is one of the highest-paid actresses in South India.
She has won many awards, including four Filmfare Awards South. She also has two Nandi Awards and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award.
Samantha started modeling while studying for her degree. She made her acting debut in the Telugu romance film Ye Maaya Chesave (2010). For this role, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. In 2012, she became the second actress to win both the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Best Actress – Telugu in the same year. This was for her roles in Neethaane En Ponvasantham and Eega.
Over the next few years, she starred in many successful films. These include Dookudu (2011), Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2012), Attarintiki Daredi (2013), Kaththi (2014), Theri (2016), 24 (2016), Mersal (2017), and Rangasthalam (2018).
Her role in A Aa (2016) earned her a fourth Filmfare Award. She also received praise for her work in Mahanati (2018), Oh! Baby (2019), Super Deluxe (2019), and Majili (2019). She also starred in the Amazon Prime Video thriller series The Family Man (2021). This role won her a Filmfare OTT Award. She recently starred in the action series Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024).
Samantha also started a charity called Pratyusha Support. She is also set to produce her first film, Subham (2025).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Samantha was born on 28 April 1987. Her parents are Joseph Prabhu and Ninette. Her father is Tamil, and her mother is Malayali. She grew up in Pallavaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She is the youngest of three children. She has two older brothers, Jonathan and David. Samantha can speak both Tamil and Telugu very well.
She went to Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai. Then, she earned a degree in commerce from Stella Maris College, Chennai. While finishing her degree, she started modeling. She worked with Naidu Hall, where filmmaker Ravi Varman first noticed her.
Acting Career
Early Success and Awards (2010–2012)
Samantha started her film career with Gautham Vasudev Menon's Telugu film, Ye Maaya Chesave (2010). This film was also made in Tamil as Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010). She was chosen for the project in August 2009. The film was released on 26 February 2010.
Samantha played Jessie, a girl living in Hyderabad. Critics praised her performance. Sify called her a "scene-stealer." Jeevi from Idlebrain.com said her debut was one of the best in Telugu cinema. Her role in Ye Maaya Chesave earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South and the Nandi Special Jury Award. Both the Telugu and Tamil versions of the film were very successful.
Her next film was the romantic drama Baana Kaathadi (2010). She played a fashion design student. Then came Ravi Varman's Moscowin Kavery (2010). This was the first film she started working on. Ravi Varman saw her in a commercial and knew she was right for the role.
Samantha also appeared in the Telugu film Brindaavanam (2010). She had a supporting role alongside NTR Jr and Kajal Aggarwal. Her performance was well-received. This film became her second successful Telugu movie.
In 2012, Samantha starred in the big-budget Telugu film Dookudu with Mahesh Babu. This film became one of the most successful Telugu films ever. Critics from The Times of India said she "looks beautiful and has done a great job." She received another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.
Samantha also had guest appearances in two of Gautham Vasudev Menon's films. She was in Nadunisi Naaygal (2011) and the Hindi version of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, called Ekk Deewana Tha (2012).
She then starred in S. S. Rajamouli's Telugu-Tamil film Eega (2012). She played a micro artist who seeks revenge for her lover's murder. The film used a CGI-created housefly as the main character. Samantha said she had to use her imagination a lot. The film was called Naan Ee in Tamil. It received very positive reviews. Critics praised Samantha's performance. The Hindu said "Samantha blooms in the role." The film was a huge success, earning over ₹ 1.25 billion.
Samantha also worked on Gautham Vasudev Menon's trilingual romantic drama. She played Nithya in the Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi versions. The Tamil version was Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012) with Jiiva. The Telugu version was Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu (2012) with Nani. Samantha even dubbed her own lines in the Tamil version.
The Tamil and Telugu films were released in December 2012. Samantha received high praise for her role in Neethane En Ponvasantham. The Hindu said it was "possibly the best performance by a female lead in Tamil cinema this year." For her roles in Neethaane En Ponvasantham and Eega, she won Best Actress awards at the 60th Filmfare Awards South. She became only the second actress to win both Tamil and Telugu Best Actress awards in the same year.
Becoming a Leading Actress (2013–2018)
After 2012, Samantha started appearing in more big-budget films. Her next film was the Telugu movie Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013). She starred alongside Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu. The film was successful.
She then starred with Pawan Kalyan in Attarintiki Daredi (2013). This film became the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time. Samantha won Best Actress awards at the SIIMA Awards and the Santosham Film Awards for her role.
In 2014, Samantha appeared in six films. She returned to the Tamil film industry. Her first release was Manam (2014). She played a dual role as a young mother and a college student. Critics praised her work. Sify said "she excels." She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She also won Best Actress (Critics) at the SIIMA Awards.
Samantha also starred in AR Murugadoss's action drama Kaththi (2014) with Vijay. This film became the most profitable Tamil film of 2014. She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for her role. She also featured in the Telugu film S/O Satyamurthy with Allu Arjun.
In 2015, Samantha played a dual role in 10 Endrathukulla. She also received positive reviews for her role in Thanga Magan. She played a wife for the first time in Tamil films. Critics called her performance "impressive" and "subdued and mature."
In 2016, Samantha starred in Atlee's Theri with Vijay. Her performance was well-received. DNA India said she "has done an incredible job." Theri became one of the most profitable Tamil films ever. She then worked with director Vikram Kumar and Suriya in the fantasy film 24. She received two nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for these films.
Samantha also starred in three Telugu films in 2016. Her role in Trivikram Srinivas's romantic comedy A Aa with Nithiin was highly praised. She played Anasuya Ramalingam, a girl trying to escape her mother's control. Critics said A Aa was "undoubtedly Samantha's film." Her performance won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She also appeared in the action film Janatha Garage.
In 2018, she starred in Rangasthalam, which became one of the highest grossing Telugu films. She also starred in the Tamil action thriller Irumbu Thirai and the Telugu biographical drama Mahanati. Both films were successful. Her performances in Rangasthalam and Mahanati were highly praised.
New Roles and Projects (2019–Present)
After her first women-focused film U Turn, Samantha starred in another one, Oh! Baby, released on 5 July 2019. This film was a remake of the South Korean film Miss Granny. It earned ₹40 crores at the box office. Critics called her performance her "career-best."
She then starred in Majili with Naga Chaitanya. This was their first film together after their marriage. Her performance received critical acclaim. A critic from India Today said, "Samantha moves people to tears with her natural performance." Samantha also played a wife in Super Deluxe with Fahadh Faasil.
In 2020, Samantha played Janaki Devi in Jaanu. This film was a remake of the 2018 Tamil film '96. Her performance earned positive reviews. She also made her television debut in 2020. She hosted a special episode of the Telugu reality show Bigg Boss 4. Later that year, she hosted a talk show called Sam Jam on Aha.
In 2021, Samantha starred in the second season of Amazon Prime Video's Hindi spy thriller series The Family Man. She played the main villain, Raji. Her performance received widespread praise. She won the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. That year, she also performed her first dance number in the film Pushpa: The Rise. She danced to the song "Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava" with Allu Arjun.
In 2022, her film Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal received mixed reviews. She played Khatija alongside Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi. Samantha also starred in the Telugu film Yashoda. In 2023, she appeared in the mythological film Shaakuntalam. She then appeared in Kushi with Vijay Deverakonda. In 2024, Samantha played Honey in the series Citadel: Honey Bunny.
Samantha launched her own production company, Tralala Moving Pictures, in 2025. She produced Subham and had a cameo role in it. Samantha will also star in and produce the Telugu film Maa Inti Bangaram. She will also appear in the Hindi series Rakt Brahmand.
Personal Life
Samantha faced some health challenges in 2012. She had to take a two-month break from acting. In 2017, Samantha became an ambassador for Telangana Handlooms. She works to promote handloom textiles in the state.
Samantha started dating actor Naga Chaitanya in 2010. They got engaged on 29 January 2017. They married in Goa in October 2017. She used her married name, Samantha Akkineni, for a while. On 2 October 2021, they announced their separation and later divorced.
On 28 September 2020, Samantha started her own women's clothing brand, Saaki World. In October 2022, she shared that she was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a health condition. In August 2023, Samantha was the Chief Guest at the world's largest Indian Independence Day Parade in Manhattan, New York City.
Giving Back to the Community
Samantha is very active in charity work. She donates her earnings from endorsements and events to her charitable trust, Pratyusha Support. She started this non-governmental organization in 2012. She wanted to help others after experiencing her own illness.
Pratyusha Support Foundation provides medical help for women and children. Samantha gives full financial support to the program. In August 2013, she held a fundraiser to raise awareness for her foundation. She auctioned off some of her items. In 2014, she launched a program to help children with serious illnesses. She paid for children to fly on an airplane and visit the Taj Mahal. She also arranged for children to meet their favorite film actors. Samantha also helps spread awareness about haemophilia.
In January 2015, Samantha agreed to pay a third of the hospital bills for one infant per week. These infants needed intensive care at Andhra Hospitals. In November 2015, she partnered with Andhra Hospitals again. She sponsored free vaccinations for infants against rotaviral infections. Later that month, she took part in an organ donation pledge.
During the 2015 Chennai floods, Samantha helped organize the Mana Madras Kosam initiative. This was a relief effort by the Telugu film industry. She helped gather relief materials. She also donated 30 lakh rupees for flood relief in Pallavaram, where she grew up. Samantha also supports handloom weavers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. She wears and promotes handloom sarees and other items. In 2017, Samantha launched Tweave, a business venture with the Telangana Government. This program promotes the handloom sector in Telangana.
Filmography
Awards and Recognitions
Samantha has won four Filmfare Awards South. She has been nominated fifteen times. She won Best Female Debut – South for Ye Maaya Chesave. She won Best Actress – Telugu for Eega and A Aa. She also won Best Actress – Tamil for Neethaane En Ponvasantham. Samantha has also won two Nandi Awards. She received a Special Jury Award for Ye Maaya Chesave. She won Best Actress for Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu.
See also
In Spanish: Samantha Akkineni para niños
