Samantha Ruth Prabhu Reflects On Strained Relationship With Late Father: ‘Fought For Validation’

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who recently shared the tragic news of her father Joseph Prabhu’s passing, opened up about their complicated relationship and its impact on her self-esteem in a candid interview with Galatta India.

Samantha revealed that her father’s critical remarks during her childhood shaped her perception of herself. “All my life growing up, I had to fight for validation. My father was kind of like… I think most Indian parents are like that. They think they’re protecting you,” she said, recounting instances when her abilities were downplayed.

“He actually told me, ‘You’re not that smart. This is just the standard of Indian education. That’s why even you can get a first rank,’” she revealed. “When you say that to a child, I really believed for the longest time that I’m not smart and not good enough.”

The actress admitted that this self-doubt followed her into adulthood and her acting career. Reflecting on the success of her debut film Ye Maaya Chesave, Samantha shared how the overwhelming praise left her conflicted. “I wasn’t used to it. Success does two things: either you think you’re invincible, or you feel undeserving of the love and praise you get. For me, it was the latter,” she said.

Her insecurities manifested as an intense drive to prove her worth. “I was scared people would wake up and realise I’m not all that talented or cool. I kept pushing myself to be better, to look better, to feel worthy of the adulation,” she added.

However, Samantha said she has since embarked on a journey of self-acceptance. “It took me 10-12 years or more to realise I’m not perfect and never will be. But imperfect is pretty cool too,” she concluded.

Born to Joseph and Ninette Prabhu in Chennai, Samantha grew up alongside her brothers Jonathan and David. Despite her meteoric rise in the film industry, her father, Joseph, remained away from the limelight. His passing marks the end of a deeply influential chapter in her life, one that shaped her struggles and triumphs in equal measure.