I’m ready to put in more effort: Samantha on her IMDb recognition

Reacting to her position on the list and being the only South Indian star in the top 15, Samantha credits her success to “a combination of luck and hard work.”

The IMDb list was topped by Deepika Padukone, followed by Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, and the late Irrfan Khan.

Samantha’s contemporaries, Tamannaah and Nayanthara, ranked 16th and 18th respectively in the IMDb list, serving as inspiration for the Mahanati (2018) actor.

Acknowledging the natural human tendency towards competition, Samantha views it positively, using her peers’ achievements as motivation to excel.

“As human beings, we are inherently competitive, always comparing ourselves. So it’s natural to be competitive. I use it as inspiration, drawing motivation from my peers’ brilliant accomplishments to work harder and improve. I don’t see competition negatively.”

Recently, Samantha turned into a producer with Bangaram. The film will be bankrolled under her banner Tralala Moving Pictures.

The Top 20 actors in the IMDb list of Top 100 Viewed Indian Stars of the Last Decade, Globally. (X)

The update came months after she said she would return to work after a seven-month hiatus following her myositis diagnosis in 2022.

Tralala Moving Pictures aims to “produce content representative of new-age expression and thought.”

“A nurturing space which invites and encourages stories that speak to the strength and complexity of our social fabric. And a platform for filmmakers to tell stories that are meaningful, authentic, and universal,” Samantha’s press note added.

Her most recent theatrical release was Kushi (2023), where she starred alongside Vijay Deverakonda.

Furthermore, she is set to feature in Raj and DK’s forthcoming Hindi web series, Citadel: Honey Bunny, sharing the screen with Varun Dhawan.

Shot in both Serbia and India, filming concluded in July last year.

Set in the 1990s, Citadel: Honey Bunny is an Indian spy-thriller series that seamlessly intertwines gripping espionage elements with a heartfelt love story.

The supporting cast includes acclaimed actors like Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Saqib Saleem, Sikandar Kher, and Soham Majumdar, among others.

Although the release date remains undisclosed, fans are eagerly awaiting its premiere on Amazon Prime Video.

(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)

Also Read: Samantha ranks high on IMDb’s top 100 most-viewed Indian stars