Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’ marked a triumphant return to the big screen, but what audiences didn’t know was that the actor completed parts of the film while she was pregnant. Director Nandini Reddy has now opened up about the careful planning that went into ensuring Samantha’s safety during the final leg of the shoot.Speaking about the actor’s comeback to Hindustan Tomes, Nandini said, “People have loved Sam for years. Our idea was to show people the Sam they love, and you know, they’ll come back to the theatre.”
Action scenes and dance number completed with extra precautions
The film was shot over six to seven months after production began in November 2025, with principal photography wrapped up in around 54 days. According to Nandini, most of the physically demanding action scenes had already been completed by the time Samantha learnt she was expecting. “So, thankfully, we had done away with most of the action portion. We were doing ‘Thassadiya’, actually, when I discovered that she was carrying. But thankfully we were at the fag end of filming when she got pregnant,” the filmmaker shared. The remaining schedule included the energetic song ‘Thassadiya’ and a car chase sequence. To ensure Samantha remained comfortable, the crew adjusted the shoot accordingly. “We took care that it wasn’t too strenuous for her and that she had enough breaks. It’s also not shot in top sunlight because we were heading into summer while shooting these. We took precautions to ensure she wasn’t exhausted too much,” Nandini revealed.
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A film designed to celebrate Samantha
Reflecting on the project, Nandini described ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’ as a film built around Samantha’s many strengths as a performer. “She is a superstar in every aspect. Her performance, her humour, her emotions, her action, her dance… I mean, she’s done it all. Our attempt was to show her in all her glory. We knew that itself would do magic for the film because she’s so loved,” she said.
Everyone worked to elevate Samantha
While praising the contributions of Gulshan Devaiah, Manjusha Mukkavilli, Sreemukhi and the rest of the ensemble, Nandini emphasised that the entire team was focused on bringing out the best in Samantha’s character. “She looks tiny, but she’s got really broad shoulders on which she carries things amazingly well. We all worked together towards one goal while shooting. That is to elevate our hero, Samantha, in the best possible way. And I think everyone was game for it, so it was fun,” she concluded. Released in theatres on June 19, ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’ received a positive response from audiences and marked a successful comeback for Samantha Ruth Prabhu.