Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently opened up about her complex relationship with her late father, Joseph Prabhu, following his passing. In a heartfelt conversation with Galatta India, Samantha shared how her father’s critical remarks during her childhood shaped her journey and deeply impacted her self-esteem.

Samantha recounted how Joseph Prabhu’s tough love and dismissive attitude toward her abilities left her grappling with self-doubt. “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.

Revealing one particularly disheartening comment, Samantha shared, “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.’ When you say that to a child, I really believed for the longest time that I’m not smart and not good enough.”

This mindset lingered into her adulthood, affecting how she perceived her success in the entertainment industry. Reflecting on the overwhelming praise she received after the blockbuster success of Ye Maaya Chesave, Samantha admitted she struggled to embrace it. “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.”

Over time, Samantha embarked on a journey of self-acceptance, which took over a decade. “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 in Chennai to Joseph and Ninette Prabhu, Samantha grew up in a close-knit family with her older brothers, Jonathan and David. Despite her meteoric rise to stardom, Joseph Prabhu largely stayed out of the limelight.

Samantha’s candid reflections not only shed light on her personal struggles but also offer inspiration for many grappling with similar issues of self-worth and validation.