Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Oo Antava: A Dance of Self-Challenge and Surprise

Samantha Ruth Prabhu set the screen on fire with her sizzling dance number ‘Oo Antava’ in the blockbuster film Pushpa: The Rise, starring alongside Allu Arjun. The song became an instant sensation, with fans applauding Samantha’s bold and captivating performance. However, in a recent interview with Galatta Plus, the actress revealed that she was initially hesitant about taking on the role.

A Challenge From Within

When asked about her motivation behind doing ‘Oo Antava,’ Samantha explained, ‘As much as people love to think that I do things to make statements for other people, I do it to challenge myself. Throughout my life, I have never considered myself a good-looking, hot woman. I think ‘Oo Antava’ was an opportunity for me to see if I could fake it and pull it off. I had never done that before. So it was honestly a challenge to myself, and I was only going to do it once because I just accepted it as a challenge.’

Shaking Before the Spotlight

Samantha also shared that she was surprised when the opportunity came her way. ‘Who thinks of me for a special song — and that too, one in which I had to look really hot? I was always playing the cute, bubbly, girl-next-door. It wasn’t about the dance, it was about the attitude — the fierce, confident woman who is always comfortable in her sexuality — all of these, which I am not. People around me said, absolutely not. I was like, I liked the lyrics, I just felt nobody had offered me something like this before, and I looked at it as an opportunity. I was shaking in front of 500 junior artists before the first shot. I was so nervous.’

Oo Antava’s Legacy

‘Oo Antava’ became one of the most memorable highlights of Pushpa: The Rise. The song’s success contributed significantly to the film’s massive box office triumph, which also starred Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, and Allu Arjun. Interestingly, in the sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, Sreeleela takes on the special dance number ‘Kissk’ instead of Samantha.

Looking Ahead

Samantha is currently gearing up for several exciting projects. She will be seen in season 2 of the popular Amazon Prime Video series The Family Man, directed by Raj & DK, alongside Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Priyamani. She also has another project in the works—Raj & DK’s fantasy action series Rakt Bramhand: The Bloody Kingdom, featuring Ali Fazal, set to release on Netflix.