Samantha Ruth Prabhu has firmly established herself as a formidable action star, with her performances in both the Telugu film Yashoda and the Amazon Prime Video series Citadel: Honey Bunny. Known for her versatility, the actress took on the role of a spy in Citadel, where she performs numerous high-octane fight sequences. However, behind the scenes, Samantha faced a personal battle that nearly derailed her ability to complete the series—her ongoing struggle with myositis, an autoimmune disorder that significantly impacted her health.
In a candid conversation with Galatta India, Samantha shared the emotional and physical toll the disorder took on her while filming Citadel: Honey Bunny.
She revealed that when she first signed onto the project, she was filled with excitement about the opportunity to showcase her action skills.
However, as her health deteriorated, the reality of performing physically demanding stunts became overwhelming. "I didn't think that a few months later, I would request Raj & DK to choose another heroine because it was not possible," Samantha confessed. "I believe I couldn't do it because of the circumstances I was in."
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Samantha's illness, which required hospitalization, made it difficult for her to keep up with the rigorous demands of the show. In a moment of vulnerability, she even suggested that directors Raj & DK replace her with other leading actresses, sending them pictures of Kiara Advani and Kriti Sanon, hoping to convince them that the role would be better suited to someone else. "I actually sent them Kiara's pictures and Kriti's pictures. I remember sending four to them, saying 'Oh my God, she is so hot. Just look at her. She will be amazing doing action. Please, I can't do it,'" Samantha recalled, adding that the directors were unmoved by her suggestions. "They said we know them. You don't have to introduce us to them. We know who they are."
Despite her struggles, Samantha's commitment to her craft pushed her to complete her work on the show. Citadel: Honey Bunny, which is a prequel to the Russo Brothers' Citadel starring Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, also features Varun Dhawan, Kay Kay Menon, and Saqib Saleem. The series has been well-received, with Samantha's performance in particular earning praise from both critics and fans. The show premiered on Amazon Prime Video last month and quickly became the number one trending series globally in its first week.
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