Samantha Ruth Prabhu is grieving the loss of her father, Joseph Prabu, who has passed away. The actress shared the heartbreaking news with her followers on Instagram Stories, posting a broken heart emoji and a message that read, “Until we meet again.”
While the cause of Joseph Prabu’s death has not been disclosed, it is known that he kept a low profile on his daughter’s social media. Samantha had previously opened up about her complicated relationship with him in various interviews. Actor Teja Sajja expressed his condolences on Twitter, offering support to the actress during this difficult time: “May you find peace in the memories you shared with your Father. My deepest sympathies to you and your family, dear @Samanthaprabhu2 garu.”
In a candid interview with Hindustan Times earlier this year, Samantha spoke about the emotional distance she felt with her father. She revealed how, throughout her childhood, she struggled to earn his approval. “I spent much of my life seeking validation. My father, like many Indian parents, thought he was protecting me. He once 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.’ Hearing that as a child, I really believed I wasn’t good enough for a long time,” she shared.
In 2022, Joseph Prabu stirred some emotions when he posted nostalgic photos from Samantha’s wedding to Naga Chaitanya, a year after their separation. Despite the couple’s split, he shared memories from the ceremony on Facebook, showcasing his daughter in a white gown and Chaitanya in a black tuxedo. In his caption, he poignantly wrote, “Long long ago, there was a story. And it doesn’t exist anymore! So, let’s start a new story. And a new chapter!”
Joseph also took time to respond to his followers’ messages of support, acknowledging their love and kind words. “Thanks for all your feelings,” he wrote in the comments section. “Yes, I sat down for a long time to overcome emotions. Life is too short to dwell on feelings and get bogged down.”
Samantha, known for her work in both Telugu cinema and major Hindi web series like The Family Man and Citadel: Honey Bunny, has kept her personal life relatively private, but her fans have rallied behind her during this time of loss.