MUMBAI — Actor and producer Samantha Ruth Prabhu provided fans with a candid update on her maternity break on Wednesday, sharing a selection of holiday photographs alongside her husband, filmmaker Raj Nidimoru.
The Instagram post, captioned simply "Just us" alongside a baby emoji, clock, and evil eye symbol, offered a rare personal glimpse of the couple enjoying downtime during their travels. The series showed the pair dining, shopping, and playing pickleball together as they prepare to welcome their first child.
Designer Kresha Bajaj, a close friend of the actor, commented on the post: "Countdown begins," signaling the approaching birth.
Official Confirmation and Work Hiatus
The public update follows Samantha's official announcement last month during a press conference in Hyderabad. While attending a promotional thank-you event for her Telugu feature Maa Inti Bangaaram, the actor confirmed her upcoming hiatus from screen projects.
"Sorry guys, one more small gap and then I will be back," Samantha told press members at the event. "I know I have to take maternity leave now. But I am very happy."
The temporary pause comes after a busy production cycle for the actor, who transition into feature film production with the horror-comedy Subham, followed by Maa Inti Bangaaram, which achieved strong box office returns as her highest-grossing solo lead project to date.
Personal Milestones and Career Context
Samantha and Raj Nidimoru, one half of the acclaimed director duo Raj & DK (The Family Man, Farzi), married in 2025. The union marks a second marriage for both creative professionals; Samantha was previously married to actor Naga Chaitanya from 2017 to 2021, while Nidimoru was formerly married to Shhyamali De.
Since making her screen debut in Gautham Vasudev Menon’s 2010 romantic drama Ye Maaya Chesave, Samantha has established herself as one of South Indian cinema's most commercially bankable and critically lauded performers. Her filmography includes major commercial successes such as Dookudu, Attarintiki Daredi, Kaththi, Theri, Mersal, and Rangasthalam.
In recent years, her choices have shifted toward complex, character-driven narratives, earning critical acclaim for her roles in Nag Ashwin’s biographical drama Mahanati, the fantasy comedy Oh! Baby, Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s neo-noir Super Deluxe, and the romantic drama Majili.
Industry colleagues and fans continue to send well-wishes as the actor enters her maternity leave, with production on her upcoming slate expected to resume following her break.