By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Samantha Ruth is one of the leading actresses down South. The Babe got a new lease after her break up with hubby Akkineni Naga Chaitanya, son of famous South Star Nagarjuna, who had reportedly offered an alimony amounting to 200 crore which she had refused to accept.
Samantha Ruth’s performance as Raji, a member of the Lankan Tamil liberation group who does away with her victims with ruthlessness,precision and unflinching determination in “The Family Man 2”, raised many an eye brow. Most critics sang hymns of praise for her bolder attitude & looks in the web series under reference.Resultantly, the actress was flooded with fresh assignments.Accordingly,she had doubled her fee.
She worked in “Ye Maaya Chesave” (2010) opposite Naga Chaitanya who she later married & divorced. “Mahanati” (2018) starring Keerthy Suresh,Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha Akkineni & Vijay Deverakonda was a Box Office hit film. Predominantly, a Telugu & Tamil actress Samantha did a cameo as a dancer in the song “Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava” in the superhit “Pushpa-The Rise”(2021) starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna & Fahadh Faasil. Her two later Telugu releases “Shakuntalam” opposite Dev Mohan & “Kushi” (2023), a romance drama opposite Vijay Devarakonda bombed at the Box-Office. According to insiders negative mouth publicity & reviews did the damage. The actress,on her part, seems least bothered or perturbed. Presently, She is the second highest paid actress after Nayanthara.
Samantha is the second actress to win both the Filmfare Award for Best Actress the same year, for her performances in the 2012 films ‘Neethaane En Ponvasantham’ and ‘Eega’, a fantasy drama featuring Sudeepa Nani & Samantha directed by S. S. Rajamouli of ‘Bhubali’ fame. Did a cameo in Hindi film “Ekk Deewana Tha” (2012) starring Prateik Babbar & Amy Jackson.
