Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has spoken candidly about her decision to perform in the item number ‘Oo Antava’ from the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise, starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. The song, which became a sensational hit, marked a significant shift from her usual roles and pushed her beyond her comfort zone.

In an interview with Galatta Plus, Samantha revealed that she was extremely nervous before the shoot, especially since she had to perform in front of nearly 500 junior artistes on set. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “Many people like to believe that I take up certain roles to send a message to others. But the truth is, I do them to challenge myself.”

She continued, “Never in my life had I imagined myself as a glamorous or ‘hot’ woman. So, I saw ‘Oo Antava’ as an opportunity to act and portray that persona. I had never done anything like it before, and that’s why it was a personal challenge. I knew I would only do it once in my life, and I wanted to embrace that challenge head-on.”

Samantha, known for playing bubbly, girl-next-door characters, admitted that this performance was more about attitude than dance moves. “The character in the song was about a woman who is confident and unapologetically embraces her own sexuality. That wasn’t me in real life. But it was an opportunity I’d never had before,” she explained.

The actor also mentioned that the performance was her way of breaking stereotypes. “It was a conscious decision to shatter preconceived notions about the kind of roles I can play. I took it up not to impress others, but to prove something to myself,” she added.

On the first day of the shoot, she recalled trembling before stepping in front of the crowd for her first shot, overwhelmed by the moment but determined to own it.