Indian Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu done with cliche roles
Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu blasts film industry for stereotypical female roles
From starring in award-winning hit films to bagging a slew of Best Actress accolades, you'd think Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has done it all.
But the 29-year-old, who is popular in both the Telugu and Tamil film industries, is apparently "so done with cliches" that she is looking for opportunities that will "fulfil my creative appetite".
She told The New Paper during an interview at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel last Saturday: "It's the exact same thing over and over again.
"Women are stereotyped (in films) in a sense that it's definitely the girl falling for the guy and for the stupidest reasons, she goes through problems, but it's the same kinds of problems.
"I'm not sure if directors from the South (of India) are unaware of or just ignorant about a woman, (but) there hasn't been an ounce of studying the intricacies of a woman (for a film production)."
Prabhu, who was in town for StarHub's star-studded Deepavali concert celebration last Saturday held opposite Serangoon Plaza, even took to Twitter recently to lament the state of the South Indian film industry.
She wrote: "Realising just how hard it is to get a meaningful role for a heroine in the South. #timeforchange #nowornever... I haven't signed as many films as I'd like to... only because there are no good roles, as disheartening as it is to say."
When asked if she feared her brutally honest tweets would upset those in the industry, she wasn't perturbed.
"I will be making a few enemies, but I guess the intelligent ones might just stop and think the changes are necessary," said Prabhu, who recently won the Youth Icon of South India award at this year's South Indian International Movie Awards held here in June.
"I'm not worried because I've done what I needed to do in the last seven years of being in the industry. I have enough hits… so what's next? It's no longer about how many million-dollar films. It's more about meaning now."
Viewers can catch her latest films 24 and Theri on Varnam (StarHub TV Ch 168), available now and from Oct 1 respectively.
While Prabhu, who made her acting debut in 2009, struggles to find meaning in her career, she's had better luck when it comes to romance.
She told TNP that her boyfriend, fellow South Indian actor Naga Chaitanya Akkineni - whom she's dated on-and-off over the last seven years - was the first friend she made in the industry when the two acted alongside each other in Gautham Menon's acclaimed 2010 Telugu romance film Ye Maaya Chesave.
Prabhu starred in her breakout debut movie as Jessie Thekkekuttu, Naga's on-screen love interest.
NOBODY
She said: "He has seen me from the time I was nobody to where I am today.
"He has always been there for me through my ups and downs and there's definitely nothing better than marrying your best friend."
Prabhu revealed that the couple recently sought both their parents' approval to tie the knot in the later part of next year.
She said of Naga, 29: "He brings a lot of stability into my life.
"My insecurities are my greatest strengths and my biggest weakness as well.
"They have pushed me to continuously work hard and they also have this habit of destroying me."
"I think he is the only one who has been able to bring stability to that rollercoaster.
"You're in an industry where you're competing superficially - there will always be someone thinking that you're not young, fair or tall enough.
"And one negative comment can hurt a lot because I'm still a human being so I'll have my weak days.
"But it is during those days that his unconditional love reminds me that I'm worthy."
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