Samantha Ruth Prabhu says South directors have poor marketing skills, credits Rajamouli for breaking the North-South barrier

Telugu heartthrob Samantha Ruth Prabhu has made quite an impact among Hindi-speaking audiences for her new web series ‘ Citadel: Honey Bunny’. At a recent event, the ‘Ye Maaya Chesave’ star voiced her thoughts on why it took South filmmakers so much time to finally capture the Hindi heartland. Addressing the media at the Speaking at the Business Today Most Powerful Women event, the actress said that while many South directors excel at storytelling and other aspects of cinema, their marketing capabilities are not quite up to the mark. The actress also credited her ‘Eega’ director, SS Rajamouli, to be the pioneer in this aspect.

“I haven’t thought about why it took so long. However, I think that South Indians might be great filmmakers but might not be great at marketing. I think that might have been one of the reasons." She added, Rajamouli Sir, with Baahubali, really opened up (more avenues for South Indian films). He was probably the first person who thought, ‘Let’s see, I think this film has wings.’ I am really glad he thought that because he really opened the gates."

For the unversed, two Rajamouli directorials—the ‘Baahubali’ franchise and the period drama '' RRR'—have been credited for making South cinema, especially Telugu films, popular among the Hindi-speaking masses.

In the same interview, Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared that she’s being mindful in selecting roles, focusing on characters that authentically represent contemporary women. She expressed her desire to avoid stereotypical "flower-pot" roles and praised her character in Citadel: Honey Bunny. Samantha explained, "In Citadel, I’m both throwing and taking punches, saving the day as much as the hero, and given a truly equal footing in an action genre—something rare and much needed. However, this approach has significantly narrowed the roles I am offered and the projects I choose, as I’m committed to staying clear of superficial roles."

On the professional front, Samantha stars in the new web series Citadel: Honey Bunny, which premiered on November 7, 2024, on Prime Video. This series is part of the Citadel spy franchise, featuring international adaptations. Directed by the renowned duo Raj & DK, the show also stars Varun Dhawan in a leading role.