Samantha Ruth Prabhu, an accomplished actor and a beloved figure in Indian cinema, has often been in the public eye for her exceptional performances and her personal life.
However, the aftermath of her divorce from Naga Chaitanya in 2021 brought intense scrutiny and harsh criticism. Recently, in an interview with Galatta India, Samantha opened up about the societal stigma attached to being labeled a “divorced woman” and the resilience she found to overcome it.
Samantha candidly shared how difficult it was to navigate through the societal expectations and hurtful remarks that followed her separation. “When a woman goes through a divorce, there’s a lot of shame and stigma attached to it,” Samantha said.
“I received comments like ‘second-hand’ and ‘wasted life.’ You’re pushed into a corner where you’re supposed to feel like you’re a failure. You’re supposed to feel guilt and shame that you were once married and now you’re not, and I do believe it can be really, really hard for families and girls who have gone through that.”
Despite the emotional toll, Samantha chose to rise above the negativity. Instead of succumbing to societal judgment, she embraced her journey and turned it into a symbol of strength.
In the interview, Samantha also discussed her decision to repurpose her white wedding gown into a striking black dress for an event. Explaining the symbolic transformation, she said, “The reason why I did that was because I wanted to, and initially, that hurt. It really hurt and then I decided to flip it and that I’ll own it. Yeah, I am separated and I am divorced. Things haven’t been a fairy tale, but that does not mean that I sit in a corner, cry about it, and never ever have the courage to live again.”
Samantha clarified that the act wasn’t about revenge or defiance. “It wasn’t any kind of revenge or anything. It really wasn’t a ginormous f*ck. Although it looked like it, but it wasn’t. It was like, ‘Yes, this has happened and I know it and I’m not trying to hide from it. This is it, but it doesn’t mean that my life ends there.’”
She added, “It begins where it ends. I’m very, very happy right now. I have grown so much and I’m doing incredible work and I’m with incredible people. I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life absolutely.”
Samantha and Naga Chaitanya’s love story began on the sets of Ye Maaya Chesave in 2010. After years of dating, they tied the knot in a lavish two-part wedding ceremony in Goa in October 2017.
However, in October 2021, the couple shocked fans by announcing their separation just before their fourth anniversary. Samantha’s decision to remove the Akkineni surname from her social media accounts fueled speculation, which was confirmed when the divorce was finalized the following year.
While Samantha has embraced her journey with grace, Naga Chaitanya is now entering a new phase of his life. He recently got engaged to actress Sobhita Dhulipala after dating her for two years. The couple is set to marry on December 4 at Annapurna Studios. Speaking to The Times of India, Naga Chaitanya shared, “I’m looking forward to starting a new journey with Sobhita.”