Popular South Indian actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has successfully charted a new course, moving beyond the silver screen to establish herself as a formidable entrepreneur. In a recent candid conversation, she opened up about her transformative journey into the world of business, which she describes as a life-changing gift to herself.
Embracing Entrepreneurship: A Portfolio of Purpose
Speaking to Moneycontrol, Samantha revealed that stepping into entrepreneurship was the "greatest gift" she has given herself. She expressed that this move allowed her to break free from the comfort zone of acting and collaborate with inspiring individuals on projects that make a tangible difference. "It's the greatest gift that I have given myself to actually step out of my comfort zone of being an actor and to be able to work with such amazing people, doing amazing things, improving the quality of life of people around," she stated.
Her business interests are vast and purpose-driven. Samantha currently has around 12 startups in her investment portfolio. She is the co-founder of the menstrual wellness brand Zoy and also owns her clothing label, Truly SMA. Beyond these, her investments span across the wellness, education, and lifestyle sectors. A common thread linking all her ventures is a focus on enhancing people's everyday lives.
Broadening Horizons: From Tunnel Vision to Real-World Impact
Samantha contrasted her experiences in the film industry with her new role as a businesswoman. She explained that an actor's life can often be insular, with interactions limited mostly to the film's crew. Entrepreneurship, however, has flung the doors wide open. "As an actor, you have tunnel vision and have very few people around you. You interact with just the people you're filming with... But as an entrepreneur, investing in over 10 companies, I have the opportunity to understand real world problems, to work in a team, to work in partnerships," she elaborated. This shift has given her a profound understanding of broader societal challenges.
Building Confidence and Finding Joy in the Process
The journey of building businesses from the ground up has been instrumental in reshaping Samantha's self-perception. She confessed to transforming from an "extremely under confident girl" to someone who now fully backs her convictions. "I want to be the person who bets on herself completely. Today, if I believe in an idea, in a product and a founder, I want to bet on them," she asserted with newfound confidence.
For Samantha, the true happiness lies not in the end result but in the act of creation itself. She finds immense joy in the daily grind of building something meaningful. "I don't think of the end game. I think of the process and I want to enjoy every single day of my life and enjoy the process of building something from scratch. That's where my happiness lies in building things and being part of building things," she shared.
On the film front, her production house, Tralala Moving Pictures, is gearing up for a release. Her upcoming Telugu film 'Maa Inti Bangaram' is set to hit theatres this summer. This marks a significant return for the actress, as it has been a while since she had a Telugu film release in cinemas.
