Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who has spoken openly about having to rethink several aspects of her life in recent years, says she and husband Raj Nidimoru had reached a point where they were comfortable with whatever the future brought, even if it didn't necessarily mean parenthood.
That sense of uncertainty is particularly significant given how dramatically Samantha’s personal and professional life has shifted. From stepping back from acting following her myositis diagnosis to eventually returning to the screen with Maa Inti Bangaaram, the actor has previously spoken about learning to surrender her need to control every outcome. She has now revealed that parenthood was another area where she and Raj were not working towards a predetermined plan.
In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Samantha said her pregnancy came as a surprise because neither she nor Raj knew whether they would eventually have a child. The actor explained that the couple were comfortable with both possibilities, and therefore the news was not something they had been actively expecting.
The revelation comes a few months after Samantha confirmed that she and Raj are expecting their first child together. She had initially sparked pregnancy speculation after being spotted with a baby bump before publicly announcing the news in June. According to the actor, she discovered she was pregnant while shooting for 'Thassadiya'.
Rather than describing the pregnancy as something that had been carefully planned, Samantha has spoken about approaching it with a sense of readiness. She has said she feels prepared for the changes that motherhood will bring, while also making it clear that her professional commitments remain important to her.
The timing is significant for another reason. Samantha’s pregnancy comes after what she has described as a period in which she had little control over her own life. Speaking about her myositis journey, she recently recalled feeling as though she had lost her identity and questioned why she had to go through the experience. She eventually came to see that period as one that taught her resilience.
Her relationship with Raj has also coincided with a major professional turnaround. After her health struggles led her to consider leaving acting altogether, Raj convinced her to take up Maa Inti Bangaaram. The film went on to become a commercial success, crossing the Rs 100 crore mark, and marked a new phase in Samantha’s career.