Samantha Ruth Prabhu is quietly working on her next film. in the lush Malnad region of Karnataka. Her upcoming Telugu film Ma Inti Bangaram is currently being shot in parts of Shivamogga district, particularly around Hosanagara taluk and its surrounding areas.
The team has been filming without much noise, blending into the greens of Malnad. Yet, a glimpse from the set recently caught attention when the crew celebrated the festival of Holi right in the middle of the shoot.
Videos shared by the team show Samantha joining the fun with full enthusiasm. Armed with a pichkari, she sprays coloured water on her co-actors, while others respond by tossing water balloons, turning the quiet film set into a lively splash of colours. For a brief moment, the seriousness of filmmaking gave way to laughter and playful chaos.
Those who spotted the visuals quickly realised that the backdrop was unmistakably from the Shivamogga region. However, the makers have not revealed how long the shoot will continue in Karnataka or whether the story itself carries a connection to the state.
The Malnad heat also seems to have made an impression on the actor. Samantha shared a selfie from the location on Instagram, tagging Shivamogga and writing a simple line: “Summer has begun.”
For a region known more for misty hills and monsoon showers, the sudden warmth clearly surprised the star.
Interestingly, the film also features Malnad-born actor Diganth Manchale. Whether he has joined the Shivamogga schedule is yet to be confirmed.
Ma Inti Bangaram is directed by B V Nandini Reddy and is expected to release worldwide on May 15. The script has been written by Samantha’s husband Raj Nidimoru along with Vasanth Mariganti, and is produced by Tralala Moving Pictures.
Earlier, speaking about the project, Samantha described it as a story centred on a woman whose strength lies not only in courage but also in her gentle nature.
According to the actor, the narrative explores emotional relationships and family bonds while capturing the simple, everyday moments of life through a distinctive storytelling style. Playing the lead role while also backing the film as a producer, she said, has been deeply satisfying.
Along with Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the lead, the film stars Gulshan Devaiah, who makes his Telugu debut, and Diganth Manchale, who returns to Telugu cinema with this project. The supporting cast includes Gautami Tadimalla, Manjusha and Sreemukhi. The film’s music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, with cinematography by Om Prakash and editing by Dharmendra Kakarla.