‘I can’t look at myself on the screen’

She popped onto the Telugu cinema screen quite suddenly two years ago with Gautam Menon’s Ye Maya Chesave and since then, there’s been no turning back for the 25-year-old Samantha Ruth Prabhu. With her latest film Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu doing well at the box-office, she says she’s nothing but content at how things have turned out. Speaking to City Express, Samantha shares more about her movie career and life post her critical illness.

“I am very happy with myself and where I am. The Telugu industry has been good to me and I will be giving preference to it over the Tamil industry. In fact, I’m going to be based here in Hyderabad from now on. I have no intentions of shifting.”

Dressed in a flowing white anarkali, the actress was almost picture-perfect poised for the shutterbugs and looked in the pink of health. Yet just under a year ago, she was critically ill, forcing her to give up Mani Ratnam’s Kadali (Kadal in Tamil).

“That was the only project I sacrificed. But my health was at an extreme low. I had no idea if I would get well.” Suffering from an immunity disorder that didn’t respond to antibiotics, the actress says it was a dark time for her. “I wasn’t a particularly religious person until then and didn’t even believe in God. But at that point, I was lonely and sick and it really brought me down. That’s when you try to push your burden onto something bigger than yourself. I’ve become a spiritual person and also more grounded than ever.”

Sharing that she would have never thought of starting the Pratyusha Foundation for Kids if not for her critical experience, Samantha says, “Most people who helped me during that time were strangers. Sometimes you don’t need too much but just knowing someone’s there for you makes that difference. That’s what I want to give back. Being able to help these children is important to me.”

The Chennai-lass, however, is focused just as ever on her career, if not more so. With two of her films due out soon, the next being the Nandini Reddy directorial Jabardasth, year 2013 couldn’t have begun better for her.

“Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu turned out better than I expected. That’s probably is also because they are fed up with the action films that have been coming out. But families going and to watch the film more than once is definitely something.”

Re-uniting with her Dookudu co-star Mahesh Babu, she admits that it made her a little anxious but just as relaxed. “He (Mahesh) hasn’t changed at all, and the rapport was better this time. Unlike last time where I was very conscious that I was acting with a super star, we were more comfortable this time. But, given that our last movie was a success, that pressure loomed that this film should also do well.”

So what was the experience of filming in a multi-starrer like? “I was doing other projects at that time, but this was one role where I didn’t have to think too much. It just came naturally, playing this cute bubbly character. And it’s funny, that of all the other characters where I really tried hard, this seems to be the most liked character I’ve played.”

So which of her performances does she think was her best? “I think Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manusu was my best performance till date. I forgot about the camera and really opened up as an actor. Gautam Menon in fact commented saying, ‘now you have become an actress’.” And ironically, the same role that she played in Tamil (Neethane En Ponvasantham), she hated. “I just couldn’t look at myself on the screen. I thought it was really bad, though the audience though otherwise. I am very hard on myself and extremely self critical with strong opinions. So generally, I can’t look at myself on screen.”

Entering the industry as a model towards the end of her undergraduate college, it’s quite interesting that as a model where her relationship was with the camera, as an actress she doesn’t like. Laughing, she replies, “Well, modelling was for pocket money. But I have genuinely developed a passion for acting. Which is funny because I was never inclined towards the arts in anyway before!”

With eight films in her repertoire already and an association with some of the best names in the South film industry, not to mention her Telugu which is reasonably good for someone who’s just learnt it, the actress says she’s “just starting out”. And not in any haphazard manner.

“I am not one of those dumb actresses who just does the film. I make it a point to know what’s happening with the film and the logistics.”

Does that mean she’s looking perhaps at a possible turning producer/director. “I haven’t really thought that far. But yes I am aware that this is temporary and when the time comes, I will go. Which is why I don’t have an affinity for awards. That can become addictive, and keep you from leaving gracefully when necessary.”

She also reaffirms that she wants a normal life, and films will not always be her be-all and end-all. “I do eventually want a family. I am 25 and have the right to a normal life, a boyfriend... I am looking forward.”