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Samantha Ruth Prabhu is an Indian actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who is known for appearing in various South Indian films. She is the ex-wife of the South Indian actor Naga Chaitanya, son of Akkineni Nagarjuna.
Wiki/Biography
Samantha Ruth Prabhu aka Samantha Akkineni was born on Tuesday, 28 April 1987 (age 37 years; as of 2024) in Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Taurus.
Upto class 10, she studied at CSI St Stephens Matriculation School, Chennai.
She then attended Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai.
She then pursued BCom hons. at Stella Maris College, Chennai. She studied French language in her graduation.
While she was pursuing graduation, she started working as a model with Naidu Hall, a women’s innerwear label. She was spotted by the Indian filmmaker in one of her modelling assignments and offered a role in the film.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 50 kg
Hair Colour: Black (dyed brown)
Eye Colour: Brown
Figure Measurements (approx.): 32-28-34
Family
She belongs to a Christian family. However, she follows both Christianity and Hinduism. She is half Telugu (from her father’s side) and half Malayali (from her mother’s side).
Parents & Siblings
Her father’s name is Joseph Prabhu, and her mother’s name is Ninette Prabhu. She has two elder brothers named Jonathann Prabhu (physician) and David Prabhu.
Husband & Children
In 2010, while she was shooting for the Telugu film ‘Ye Maaya Chesave,’ she met the Indian actor Naga Chaitanya. While shooting together for the film, they became good friends. At that time they both were in a relationship with some other Indian actors. In 2014, while they were working together again in the Telugu film ‘Autonagar Surya,’ they fell in love with each other. In September 2016, they confirmed their relationship, and on 29 January 2017, they got engaged at the N-Convention Centre in Hyderabad. Samantha wore an ivory saree on the event on which her love story was embroidered.
The couple got married in a Hindu ceremony on 6 October 2017 and a Christian ceremony on 7 October 2017.
The couple got separated in October 2021 following which Naga took to Instagram to announce their separation.
In 2022, the couple got divorced. Reportedly, she was offered an alimony of Rs 200 crore, but she declined the offer. Their fans used to call them ‘ChaySam.’
Relationships/Affairs
In 2012, she started dating the Indian actor Siddharth. After dating for around two-and-a-half years, the couple got separated. After her marriage with Naga Chaitanya, Siddharth made cryptic social media posts hinting towards Samantha and Naga’s relationship.
Autograph
Career
Model
She has walked the ramp in various renowned fashion shows.
She has been featured in various photoshoots.
She has also appeared in TV commercials for brands like Myntra, Ariel, Munch, Pepsi, and Dabur Vatika.
Samantha has been featured in the print advertisements of various brands such as South India Shopping Mall, Rexona, and Drools.
Film
Tamil
In 2010, she made her Tamil film debut with ‘Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa’ as Nandini (cameo role).
Some of her other Tamil films are ‘Moscowin Kavery’ (2010), ‘Anjaan’ (2014), ‘Super Deluxe’ (2019), and ‘Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal’ (2022).
Telugu
She made her Telugu film debut with the 2010 film ‘Ye Maaya Chesave’ as Jessie Thekkekuttu.
She has acted in various Telugu films like ‘Brindavanam’ (2010), ‘Eega’ (2012), ‘S/O Satyamurthy’ (2015), ‘A Aa’ (2016), ‘Majili’ (2019), and ‘Shaakuntalam’ (2023).
Other Languages
In 2012, she made a cameo appearance in the Hindi film ‘Ekk Deewana Tha.’
TV
In 2020, she hosted a few Telugu TV shows like ‘Bigg Boss Season 4’ (Star Maa) and ‘Sam Jam’ (Aha; also writer and director).
Web Series
In 2021, she made her Hindi web series debut with ‘The Family Man: Season 2’ as Rajalekshmi “Raji” Sekharan. The series was streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
In 2023, she was roped in Amazon Prime Video’s Hindi remake of the web series ‘Citadel.’
Philanthropist
In 2012, after being bedridden for 15 days, she decided to start an NGO. In the same year, she started Pratyusha Support, an NGO which provides medical care and support to underprivileged women and children suffering from life-threatening diseases. In August 2013, she auctioned her several things and mementoes (from various films) to raise funds for the NGO.
In 2014, she organised an aeroplane trip to the Taj Mahal for the NGO children. She made a pact with the Andhra Pradesh Hospitals in 2015 to pay one-third of the hospital bills of one infant per week. She has supported various other social causes like supporting the victims of Chennai Floods 2015 and helping handloom workers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In 2017, to promote the handloom sector in Telangana, she started a company named Tweave in partnership with the Telangana Government.
Entrepreneur
On 15 February 2017, she became the designated partner in the private firm SVS Partners LLP. She started a preschool ‘Ekam’ in 2020 along with the Indian actress Shilpa Reddy and educationist Mukta Khurana.
On 26 December 2022, she started her film production company named Tra-La-La Moving Pictures Private Limited.
She is the co-partner in the fashion label Saaki.
Other Work
In 2010, she appeared in the Tamil music video “Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam” by A. R. Rahman. In 2021, she appeared in the song “O Antava Mawa” from the Telugu film ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ which became very popular.
In 2023, she appeared in an episode of the Hindi reality TV show ‘MTV Hustle 3.0.’
Controversies
Backlash from Netizens
In 2013, she made a tweet on the poster of the Telugu film ‘1: Nenokkadine’ in which Mahesh Babu was seen walking and Kriti Sanon following him on her hands and knees.
Samantha had tweeted,
Saw a poster of a yet-to-be-released Telugu film. Not only is it deeply regressive, but its point is actually that it is deeply regressive.”
Mahesh Babu’s fans did not like her tweet and started trolling her in the comments section. Her that time boyfriend Siddharth also came in her defence. Mahesh’s fans became so angry over them that they started the #GetLostSamanthaAndSiddharth trend on Twitter. In 2023, while remembering Mahesh Babu’s film poster, netizens mocked her for the poster of the Telugu film ‘Kushi’ in which the Indian actor Vijay Deverakonda was seen touching his foot to her arm.
Fued with the Film Producer
In 2023, after the release of her Telugu film ‘Shaakuntalam,’ the Indian film producer Chitti Babu said that her career as a heroine was finished. She made a few more negative comments on her career. Later, Samantha also made a cryptic post on her Instagram hinting towards Chitti Babu. Later, she deleted the post.
Accused of Spreading Dating Rumours
In 2022, reportedly, on her instructions, her PR team spread the rumours of her ex-husband Naga Chaitanya‘s dating rumours with the Indian actress Sobhita Dhulipala. A netizen also commented on her photo that she will spend the rest of her life with cats and dogs only. Later, while replying to all such comments she said that she did not plant the fake rumours of Naga’s relationship and said that she would be lucky to spend her life with her pets.
Awards & Honours
- 2011: Filmfare Award South for Best Female Debut for the Telugu film Ye Maaya Chesave
- 2011: Nandi Award (Special Jury Award) for the Telugu film Ye Maaya Chesave
- 2011: CineMAA Award for Best Female Debut for the Telugu film Ye Maaya Chesave
- 2011: TSR-TV9 National Film Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Eega
- 2013: Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Actress for the Tamil film Neethaane En Ponvasantham
- 2013: CineMAA Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Eega
- 2013: Filmfare Award South for Best Actress for the Tamil film Eega
- 2013: Filmfare Award South for Best Actress for the Tamil film Neethaane En Ponvasantham
- 2013: Tamil Nadu State Film Award (Special Prize) for the Tamil film Neethaane En Ponvasantham
- 2013: Santosham Film Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Eega
- 2013: Vijay Award for Best Actress for the Tamil film Neethaane En Ponvasantham
- 2014: Santosham Film Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Attarintiki Daredi
- 2014: South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Attarintiki Daredi
- 2014: Margadarsi Big Telugu Entertainment Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Attarintiki Daredi
- 2015: South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Manam
- 2015: CineMAA Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Manam
- 2015: TSR-TV9 National Film Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Attarintiki Daredi
- 2015: RITZ Solitaire Award in the solitaire category for works and contributions to films
- 2015: 2nd BehindWoods Gold Medal Award for Best Actress (People’s Choice) for the Tamil films Kaththi and Anjaan
- 2016: RITZ Southscope Lifestyle Award for Style in Cinema- South India’s Most Admired Fashion Icon
- 2016: South Indian International Movie Award for Youth Icon of South India
- 2017: International Indian Film Academy Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film A Aa
- 2017: Filmfare Award South for Best Actress for the Telugu film A Aa
- 2017: Nandi Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu
- 2017: Santosham Film Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film A Aa
- 2017: Zee Cine Award Telugu- Queen of Box Office
- 2017: 4th BehindWoods Gold Medal Award for Best Actress (People’s Choice) for the Tamil films 24 and Theri
- 2018: 2nd Social Media Summit and Award for her films- Most Liked South Indian Actress
- 2018: Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Movie Award for Best Actress for the Telugu film Rangasthalam
- 2019: TV9 Nava Nakshatra Sanmanam Award for Best Actor (Female) for Telugu films Rangasthalam, Mahanati and Oh! Baby
- 2019: South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actress (Critics) for the Telugu film Rangasthalam
- 2019: South Indian International Movie Award for Style Icon of the Year (Female)
- 2019: TSR-TV9 National Film Award for Citation of Honour
- 2020: Zee Cine Award Tamil (Special Mention) for the Tamil film Super Deluxe
- 2020: Zee Cine Award Telugu for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Female for the films Oh! Baby and Majili
- 2020: Critics’ Choice Film Award for Best Actress – Telugu for the film Oh! Baby
- 2021: South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actress – Telugu for Oh! Baby
- 2021: New York Cinematography Award for Best Supporting Actress for the Telugu film Mahanati
- 2021: Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Award for Best Performance (Female) in a Hindi Web Series for The Family Man (Season 2)
- 2021: OTT & Digital Marketing Innovation Award for Best Female Lead of the Year for the Hindi web series The Family Man (Season 2)
- 2021: Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the Hindi web series The Family Man (Season 2)
- 2022: Champions of Change Telangana – 2021 for her work in the area of social welfare through Pratyusha Support for Outstanding Contribution to the Development and Welfare of Women and Children
Ranking
Times of India
- 2013: No. 9 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2012
- 2013: No. 2 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2012
- 2014: No. 12 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2013
- 2014: No. 9 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2013
- 2015: No. 9 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2014
- 2015: No. 3 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2014
- 2016: No. 5 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2015
- 2016: No. 7 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2015
- 2017: No. 12 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2016
- 2017: No. 3 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2016
- 2018: No. 21 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2017
- 2018: No. 16 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2017
- 2019: No. 3 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2018
- 2019: No. 3 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2018
- 2020: No. 1 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2019
- 2020: No. 7 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2019
- 2020: No. 17 in India’s Top 50 Most Desirable Woman 2019
- 2021: No. 2 in Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Woman 2020
- 2021: No. 1 in Chennai Times Most Desirable Woman 2020
- 2021: No. 34 in India’s Top 50 Most Desirable Woman 2020
Other Ranking
- 2021: No. 3 in Top 10 Indian Web Series of 2021 – The Family Man TV Series (Season 2) by IMDb
- 2021: No. 3 in Most Tweeted about Actors (Female) in South Indian Entertainment by Social Networks
Car Collection
Tattoos
She has a tattoo of the ‘YMC’ initials of her debut film Ye Maaya Chesave on her back near her neck.
Her second tattoo is the nickname ‘Chay’ of her ex-husband on the right side of her ribcage. In October 2023, it was speculated that the tattoo was removed by her as in her photos the tattoo was not visible.
Her third tattoo is two upward arrows on her right wrist.
Expensive Things/Valuables
- Pair of Manolo Blahniks (cost between Rs 98,000 and Rs 1 lakh)
- Gucci Sling Bag (costs around Rs 1.4 lakhs)
- Bvlgari Serpentini watch (priced at Rs 6 lakh)
Assets & Properties
- A house in the posh Jubilee Hills in the neighbourhood of Hyderabad
- A duplex apartment in Hyderabad for about Rs. 7.8 crore from Nalla Preetham Reddy
- An apartment in Jayabheri Orange County, Hyderabad, India
Net Worth
As of 2023, her net worth is around Rs 89 crore.
Favourites
- TV Show: The West Wing (1999)
- Book: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- Food: Sushi, Sweet Pongal, Dairy Milk Chocolate, Paalakova
Facts/Trivia
- She also goes by the names Yasodha, Yasho, and Sam. Her ex-husband used to call her Papaa.
- While she was studying in school, she used to be a topper.
- For her pocket money, she started working as a model at a very young age.
- In her leisure time, she enjoys reading books, listening to music, shopping, gymming, gardening, and horse riding.
- One of her cigarette-smoking videos with her ex-husband once went viral on social media.
- She is often spotted consuming alcohol at various parties and events.
- On her 36th birthday, a temple of her was built by her fan named Tenali Sandeep at the premises of his house in Alapadu village of Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh.
- She has been featured on the cover of various magazines such as JFW, B Positive, Elle, Filmfare, Fanta, and Cosmopolitan.
- She is an avid animal lover and owns two pet dogs named Hash and Saasha.
- Samantha is a spiritual person and often visits various religious places.
- She has started a self-titled YouTube channel on which she uploads podcasts.
- In 2013, she was diagnosed with diabetes.
- In 2015, the houses of a few South Indian actors including Samantha were raided by the Income Tax Department.
- In an interview, she said that for good roles in films, she decided to lower her salary.
- In March 2022, she became the second-highest-paid South Indian actress after Nayanthara.
- She was invited as the chief guest at the world’s largest Indian Independence Day Parade in Manhattan, New York City in August 2023.
- She has been diagnosed with myositis, in which the immune system of the body attacks the muscles resulting in inflammation, weakness, and pain. She even took a long break from the films for her treatment.
- Reportedly, she went under the knives to enhance her facial features.