Samantha Ruth Prabhu has opened up about the impact of her myositis diagnosis on her confidence and sense of identity. The actor said the illness made her feel as though she had lost control over her life.Samantha Ruth Prabhu made her diagnosis public in 2022. She later took a break from acting to focus on treatment and recovery. Four years on, she has reflected on how the experience changed her outlook on confidence, resilience and life.Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Samantha Ruth Prabhu discussed the health challenges she faced alongside difficulties in her personal life. She explained that confidence had once been something she built through exercise, routines and her appearance.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu recalls ‘loss of identity’ after diagnosis
Samantha Ruth Prabhu said her illness made her realise that physical confidence could not always protect her from circumstances beyond her control.“It’s carefully built, this confidence. But when something like a health issue happens to you, sickness really doesn’t care how confident you look. I felt such a loss of identity when that happened to me. I felt like I had no control. It took me a while to realize that I do have control over how I respond to it. I don’t have to fake confidence, but there are other lessons that I need to learn,” she said.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu says myositis taught her resilience
The actor said her experience with the autoimmune condition eventually taught her important lessons. Samantha Ruth Prabhu specifically mentioned resilience, faith and hope.“Which is resilience, faith, hope, and these things are important qualities that sickness taught me. As a result, everything got better. As much as I’d like not to have gone through this, it taught me lessons that have become an invaluable part of my life. I went through that phase of, ‘Why me?’ It took me a while to get to the point where I realized there’s something to learn from this.”She acknowledged that she would rather not have experienced the illness. However, she said the lessons from that period have become an important part of her life.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu reveals pregnancy surprise
Samantha Ruth Prabhu also spoke about her pregnancy during the interview. She recalled discovering that she was pregnant while shooting for the ‘Thassadiya’ song. The actor said she had to continue performing the choreography after learning the news. She was also experiencing some sickness at the time.“I was shooting for Thassadiya, and I had just found out. I had to go and do the steps, and I was having a little bit of sickness at that time. So, well, I guess everything just aligned.”
Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she is ready for motherhood
Samantha Ruth Prabhu said she is excited about becoming a mother. She also acknowledged the advice she has received about how dramatically parenthood can change one’s life. “I am truly excited, and really, I do believe it when everyone tells me, ‘Having a child changes your entire life.’ I think I’m ready for that change.”She also revealed that pregnancy came as an unexpected development for her and Raj Nidimoru. “There was a point where both Raj and I were okay with either. I was fine, and so was he. So, this was a surprise!”
Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru are expecting their first child
Samantha Ruth Prabhu and filmmaker Raj Nidimoru married at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore in December 2025. The couple later worked together on Nandini Reddy’s ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’. Samantha Ruth Prabhu announced her pregnancy in June 2026 during the success party for ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’. The actor and Raj Nidimoru are now preparing to welcome their first child.
