Maa Inti Bangaram has emerged as a major box office success, crossing Rs 100 crore worldwide and becoming one of the biggest female-led Telugu films in recent times.
Celebrating the milestone, Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared an emotional note on social media, recalling the doubts the film faced before its release. She revealed that an exhibitor had once said, “Why would anyone watch a heroine film?” Samantha admitted she often wondered if audiences even knew the film existed. She now hopes its success encourages more support for female-led films and changes long-held industry perceptions.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu recalls pre-release doubts surrounding Maa Inti Bangaram
On July 12, took to her Instagram account and shared the milestone of Maa Inti Bangaram crossing Rs 100 crore worldwide, along with a note. As Maa Inti Bangaram crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide, Samantha reflected on the doubts the film faced before its release. In a heartfelt post, she admitted she was constantly worried about whether audiences even knew the film existed.
“Before the release of Maa Inti Bangaram, I remember obsessing over one thing: were people even talking about the film? Were the assets we were putting out reaching people? Did they know this film existed?” she wrote. Samantha then recalled overhearing a conversation between a friend and an exhibitor from a B-centre. When asked about the film’s opening, the exhibitor replied, “Why would anyone watch a heroine film? If she’s in a big hero’s film, fine. People know her for the glamour. But a film led by a heroine? Who will come? Nobody.” Reflecting on the remark, Samantha wrote, “That was the perception before released.”
Looking back on the film’s journey, she said, “I think real change only happens when someone is willing to take a risk. Most of the time, those risks don’t pay off. Every once in a while, they do. For us, this one did.” She added that she hopes the film marks “the beginning of something bigger” and changes how female-led films are viewed. “I hope that the next time someone calls an exhibitor in a B or C centre and asks about a female-led film, the answer isn’t an instant no. Maybe it’s, ‘Let’s see.’ Because the truth is, we will never really know.”
Fans and members of the film fraternity flooded Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s comments section with congratulatory messages after Maa Inti Bangaram crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide. Actor Rhea Kapoor wrote, “congratulations more power,” while actor Kajal Aggarwal reacted with a string of fire, heart-eyes and clapping emojis. Actors Siri Hanmanth and Mariedashani also dropped heart and fire emojis, celebrating the milestone. Reacting to the post, Rakul Preet Singh and Dia Mirza have dropped red hearts and fire emojis in the comments section.
Many fans hailed Samantha for proving that a female-led film could succeed at the box office, with comments like “That’s how you move the needle” and “Congratulations Shyam,” praising both the actor and the film’s historic achievement.
About Maa Inti Bangaram
Maa Inti Bangaaram is a Telugu action-comedy-drama directed by B. V. Nandini Reddy, with Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing a former assassin protecting her family from old enemies. The film has emerged as the highest-grossing female-led Telugu film ever.