Amid growing backlash against celebrity endorsements of gambling and tobacco products, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has taken a firm stand on the kind of brands she associates with. In a recent interview, she revealed that she turned down nearly 15 endorsement deals over the past year, prioritizing integrity over income.
Samantha shared that her approach to brand collaborations has evolved drastically. She now employs a panel of doctors to vet every brand’s claims before agreeing to a deal.
“When I entered this industry in my 20s, the symbol of being successful was based on the number of projects you had, the number of brands you endorsed, and how many wanted your face on their products,” she told Foodpharmer. “I was very happy that all these big multinational brands wanted me as their ambassador.”
However, her priorities have since shifted.
“But today, I realise that I couldn’t be more wrong. I was almost forced to introspect on my choices and I knew I had to follow what feels right,” she explained. “Today, I feel that my younger self should apologize to my older self for doing all the nonsense, and that’s exactly why I want to appeal to my younger followers to not think that they are invincible in their 20s.”
Samantha further emphasized the importance of making conscious choices, even if it comes at a financial cost.
“Those endorsements were done a very long time ago. I’ve said no to and let go of almost 15 brands just last year—and of course, that’s crores and crores of money,” she added. “Now, every time there is an endorsement, I vet my brands with three doctors before I agree to endorse it.”
Her candid revelations have sparked widespread conversations on social media, with fans praising her integrity and boldness.