’Will Have To Change Old Patterns’: Samantha Ruth Prabhu On Returning To Industry Post Mysoitis Diagnosis

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s battle with myositis became one of the most challenging phases of her life. The actress was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune condition in 2022, which forced her to step away from work and focus on her recovery. After months of treatment and rest, Samantha returned to acting, but she has often spoken about how the experience changed her outlook towards life and work.

While promoting her upcoming Telugu film Maa Inti Bangaram, Samantha recently spoke about her career, her obsession with success, and how her health scare made her rethink her choices. In an interview with Gulte, the actress opened up about the pressure she felt while trying to maintain her position in the industry.

Talking about her rise to fame and the love she received from audiences, Samantha said, “It was shocking to me that a girl from nowhere, like from a small town, experienced stardom and people love me. They were loving me on the big screen. They are looking forward to watching my films. They are screaming my name. With this surprise, I worked in films. I was addicted to the game of stardom. In a year, I remember that I made five movies back to back, and all of them were hits, so people thought I had a golden leg, and I believed that I should live up to the expectations.”

The actress also shared that the break she took after her diagnosis helped her understand the importance of slowing down. She admitted that she was working harder than ever before when she had to pause her career because of her health.

It was shocking to me that a girl from nowhere, like from a small town, experienced stardom and people love me. They were loving me on the big screen. They are looking forward to watching my films. They are screaming my name. With this surprise, I worked in films. I was addicted to the game of stardom. In a year, I remember that I made five movies back to back, and all of them were hits, so people thought I had a golden leg, and I believed that I should live up to the expectations.

- Samantha Ruth Prabhu

She shared, “When I had to take that break recently, I was hustling the most. I wanted to do many films and keep doing it. I never thought there would be retirement. You become so egoistic as an actor that you see no end, you refuse to see there is an end. After this recent break, I could envision that end for me, and that really changed me in many ways. I made certain decisions during the break, like if I come back to this profession after the break, I will have to change a lot of things, a lot of old patterns.”

When I had to take that break recently, I was hustling the most. I wanted to do many films and keep doing it. I never thought there would be retirement. You become so egoistic as an actor that you see no end, you refuse to see there is an end. After this recent break, I could envision that end for me, and that really changed me in many ways. I made certain decisions during the break, like if I come back to this profession after the break, I will have to change a lot of things, a lot of old patterns.

- Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Samantha was shooting for her Telugu film Kushi when she was diagnosed with myositis in 2022. The actress took a break from her professional commitments for several months before making her comeback.

On the personal front, Samantha was earlier married to actor Naga Chaitanya. The two got married in 2017 and announced their separation in 2021. Naga Chaitanya later married actress Sobhita Dhulipala in 2024. Samantha, meanwhile, tied the knot with director Raj Nidimoru.