If you’re reading this and are not Indian, you probably wouldn’t know who I am talking about. Samantha (aka Sam) is an Indian celebrity who acted in several commercial blockbusters.
I didn’t grow up watching cinema every weekend, so this post will not be about her cinematic skills. Instead, it will be about what I admire in her as a professional working woman.
Sam constantly pushes the envelope.
Sam’s work ethic is top-notch. At 5’2″, she’s probably the fittest female actress, one of the best in the country for high-octane action scenes.
She brilliantly manages her fitness, team, and brand while breaking significant stereotypes.
She’s gotten paired with younger heroes, shouldered pan-Indian movies, and even performed bold dance moves on celluloid right after a divorce. Even when married into one of the wealthiest families in the southern film industry, she challenged the status quo by not sticking to the siren-turned-housewife playbook, unlike several actresses before her.
All this and more while she’s fighting through an autoimmune disease and working long hours to push her career to the next level.
I see the evolution of her roles, from dominating the South with her bubbly next-door image to comedy to playing the dark antagonist (pun intended), consistently trying to push the envelope of her capabilities and influence.
Sam is a Savvy Business Woman
Sam’s French pitbull named Hash was a hit on Instagram. By showcasing his personality through cute little posts, she bagged several promotional partnerships to represent pet brands like Drools. Sam’s penchant for all things luxury (rightly so when you’re a self-made lady like her) had luxury brands convinced she would represent Dior, LV, Burberry, Tommy, Bulgari, and more exceptionally.
Her fitness and plant-based diet are monetized through energy drinks, vegetarian collagen, and sustainable sneaker endorsements. Her relatability gets her featured in Kurkure, Munch, Vicks, MaMa Earth, and Fanta PhonePe—the list is endless. Finally, the national Pepsi commercial reinforces her solid, never-give-up attitude in fighting against societal norms. Now, she’s into functional medicine and launched a podcast to continue building her brand.
As a business school student, I know how hard it is to sell across so many different segments at the same time. I am in awe of her ability to monetize her interests and values—and I don’t mean this negatively. Her authenticity is her armor, but its shine radiates because of her incredible PR skills to be relatable to her followers. And there are many lessons to learn from it!
- Know when not to speak.
- Share your interests and turn it into a passion.
- Build a brand of your everyday life.
- Create a virtuous network of people, activities, and partnerships
- Don’t intimidate. Only inspire.
Sam gives back
Sam experienced a meteoric rise in fame, name, and wealth from humble beginnings. Her childhood as a young girl who had to work hard to chase her dreams gives her the impetus to help others in dire financial need. And she was never afraid to show us her roots. That buys her heaps of goodwill.
Her giving back is not limited to monetary deeds. I’ve seen her praise and compliment people generously. Each time I watch her interview, I can see the warmth she shows her co-actors, directors, producers, make-up artists, stylists, and more. She makes fun of herself to put others at ease, which is much more valuable than philanthropy. It shows you that this person cares for people.
People who work for her never leave her side. Sam gets repeatedly cast on projects (e.g., Raj&DK, Gautam Menon) because of the attitude (and talent) she brings along with her. This is also why her friends stick by her. Through her highs and lows, it's evident they haven’t left her side—especially in an industry where making friends is hard—this is commendable.
Sam delivers
Her recent work, Shaakuntalam, tanked at the box office, which is okay. But Sam has shouldered several blockbusters consistently and has carved out a niche for herself. And I refuse to believe that it was just pure luck. While she has a pretty face, a sexy body, famous friends, and a lavish lifestyle, she wouldn’t have been the subject of my blog if she didn’t deliver.
She places lots of expectations on herself and constantly works to the bone to ensure she’s giving it her all. And a little more. A good day’s work where she couldn’t have given another extra ounce of effort, apparently the highest pleasure of her life. There’s something very stoic and righteous about practicing this.
It’s easy to grab attention for a hot second but hard to sustain. While Sam may get trolled for going under the knife, I want folks to realize that it takes incredible effort to stay ahead of the curve and reinvent yourself. If you do not exceed your work expectations, especially in a competitive world like hers, you get replaced in the blink of an eye. And there isn’t any worthy replacement of the essence of Sam out there.
Sam is resilient
Resilience is hard. It takes immense self-conviction, patience, and perseverance. It is easy to give up and tell yourself that the world has wronged you; it is tough to show up every day and fight through the pain and failure.
And Sam has had it challenging. Whether it was people’s opinions on her relationship status or her battle with Myositis, she’s always come out stronger in the end.
We all must be more like Sam. I try to be.
