Samantha Ruth Prabhu Reveals Sexist Remark as Her Film Crosses Rs 100 Crore
As the Telugu film Maa Inti Bangaram crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at the worldwide box office, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu took to Instagram not to celebrate the milestone, but to share a story about the dismissive attitude the film faced before its release.
In an Instagram post, Samantha recounted a conversation between a friend and an exhibitor from a B-centre town, which took place before the film’s release. The friend called the exhibitor to gauge expectations for the film. Samantha listened in without the exhibitor’s knowledge.
“My friend asked, ‘What do you think about Maa Inti Bangaram? How much do you think it’ll open at?’” Samantha wrote. “The exhibitor didn’t hesitate. ‘Why would anyone watch a heroine film? If she’s in a big hero’s film, fine. People know her for the glamour. But a film led by a heroine? Who will come? Nobody.’”
The actor did not name the exhibitor but used the anecdote to highlight the bias against female-led films in the industry. She noted that despite such prejudices, the film’s success proved the audience’s willingness to embrace content-driven cinema led by women.
Maa Inti Bangaram, directed by Venky Atluri, features Samantha in the lead role. The film’s box office performance has been seen as a significant achievement for a female-centric film in Telugu cinema.
