Samantha Ruth Prabhu Says She Was 'Forced' To Reveal Her Myositis Diagnosis

Samantha Ruth Prabhu made headlines in 2022 when she disclosed her diagnosis with an autoimmune condition called myositis. This revelation prompted Prabhu to take a hiatus from her acting career to prioritise her health. However, far from retreating from the public eye, Prabhu has taken proactive steps to raise awareness about myositis. Last year, she was appointed as the brand ambassador for Myositis India, using her platform to shed light on the disease.

In a recent appearance at the India Today Conclave 2024, Prabhu candidly shared the challenges she faced in coming forward about her illness. Recalling the circumstances that led to her public disclosure, Samantha explained, "I was forced to go public about my disorder. At that time, I had my female-centric film due for release. I was very sick back then. It was hard and I wasn’t ready. There were all sorts of speculation going around and misinformation being spread. The producers needed me to promote it, otherwise, it (the film) would just die."

Samantha Prabhu Reveals She Was Forced To Go Public About Her Disorder

Despite her reluctance, Prabhu agreed to do one interview, even though she looked visibly different due to the high doses of medication required to manage her condition. "So, I agreed to do one interview. Obviously, I didn’t look the same. I had high doses of medication to keep me stable. I was forced to."

However, she added, "Given a choice, I wouldn’t have come out and announced it. I was called sympathy queen by the public. My journey as an actor, as a human being, I have evolved so much. Early on in my career, I was anxious and go up (online) looking for nasty articles and what was being written about me."

Reflecting on the impact of public scrutiny, Prabhu revealed how the constant accusations made her question herself. "The more people accused me of things, I started to almost question every question every thought of mine," she confessed. She added,"They have forced me to become the person that I can be proud of. When people are going through a lot of pain, they need a portal to project it. And social media is that portal I guess. I do really think that."

Myositis, the condition Samantha Ruth Prabhu battles, is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the muscles, causing weakness, pain, and fatigue. Despite its rarity, Samantha's openness about her struggles has helped raise awareness about the disease and the importance of early diagnosis and proper medical management.