Samantha says producing films has given her something acting never could — creative independence. It has also helped her navigate the uncertainties that followed her myositis diagnosis. “Initially, would wonder if my health would make people think twice before casting me. But now I feel self-sufficient with everything that I’m doing. My plate is full with the things I’m creating on my own,” says the actress who launched her production house with the Telugu horror-comedy Subham and followed it up with Maa Inti Bangaram.She adds, “Through my production house, I have the opportunity to stay in the film industry and do the things I love — not necessarily in front of the camera.”After winning praise for her performances in The Family Man and Citadel: Honey Bunny, Samantha says she wants to explore the action genre further. “I was pleasantly surprised by the response that I received for my action scenes in The Family Man. It’s not easy for the audience to accept a petite girl doing action, so I want to capitalise on that. I enjoy getting my hands dirty and getting punched in the face — not in real life! Doing such a role feels challenging and intoxicating.”
