Rana Daggubati and Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared an incredibly fun moment at the IIFA Utsavam Awards held in Abu Dhabi, where their playful camaraderie was on full display. The two actors, who have a warm and friendly bond, engaged in light-hearted banter that had fans in fits of laughter. Their easy rapport and humorous exchanges made their appearance one of the highlights of the event.
Rana’s Playful Tease About Samantha’s Career Shift
One of the most memorable moments came when Rana teased Samantha about her career trajectory. He joked, “Samantha went from Tollywood to Hollywood. Went from my sister-in-law to sister.” The comment, referring to her separation from Naga Chaitanya (Rana’s cousin), left the audience in splits. Rana continued the playful teasing by saying, “That’s not cinema, sister, it’s a show. They told me you can do anything on it, I learned that from Family Man.” Samantha’s role in The Family Man had made her a household name, and Rana’s quip only added to the fun atmosphere.
Samantha, who is no stranger to light-hearted jabs, took the comments in stride, laughing and responding with equal humor. She jokingly asked, “What is this self-trolling about?” as the audience joined in the laughter. This playful exchange showcased the strong bond between the two, who seem to enjoy poking fun at each other in the most endearing way.
“Comedy Sam” and the Banter Continues
Rana, in his signature playful style, continued the fun by recalling how he used to call Samantha “Samantha Ruthless Prabhu.” He then quipped, “But where did comedy Sam go?” Samantha, never one to miss a beat, responded with a grin, “Comedy Sam… controversial Sam. She went to sleep; good night.” This witty back-and-forth between the two had the audience thoroughly entertained, highlighting their easy-going dynamic and mutual affection.
Samantha’s Achievement: Women of the Year Award
The fun banter wasn’t the only highlight of the evening. Samantha was also honored with the Women of the Year award, which was presented to her by actor Vicky Kaushal. The moment was an important recognition of her contributions to cinema, especially her work in both the South Indian film industry and beyond. After receiving the award, Samantha stayed on stage to chat with Rana and fellow actor Teja Sajja, where the playful exchange continued.
The “Sister” Joke and the Easy Camaraderie
As part of the lighthearted fun, Rana invited Samantha to stay on stage, where he made a cheeky comment about her shift in family dynamics. Referring to her divorce from Naga Chaitanya, he jokingly referred to Samantha as his “sister” rather than his “sister-in-law.” This comment, acknowledging their friendly and teasing relationship, was met with laughter and applause from the audience.
Samantha’s Cheeky Response About Her Telugu Film Career
The conversation took another amusing turn when Rana asked Samantha why she hadn’t been doing many Telugu films recently. Samantha, with her characteristic wit, responded, “If I do a film, it should be like Narasimha Naidu, not Rana Naidu.” This cheeky remark was a playful reference to her preference for certain types of roles—hinting that she would rather do an iconic, larger-than-life role like in Narasimha Naidu, rather than a Netflix series like Rana Naidu, where Rana plays the lead.
What’s Next for Rana and Samantha?
While their off-screen chemistry continues to captivate fans, both stars are busy with exciting projects. Samantha is gearing up for the release of her much-anticipated Prime Video series Citadel: Honey Bunny, which will start streaming on November 7, 2024. As for Rana, he continues to impress audiences with his work in both films and the popular Rana Naidu series.