Samantha Ruth Prabhu has finally addressed speculation around her pregnancy stating she will be on maternity break. Meanwhile, another actress cotinued to work during this phase, even allowing a film to shoot birth of her baby.
Samantha Announces Pregnancy
Samantha has officially confirmed that she is pregnant. She and her husband, filmmaker Raj Nidimoru, are expecting their first child. The actor made the announcement during the success meet of her latest release Maa Inti Bangaaram in Hyderabad.
Samantha announces break
The 39-year-old also revealed that she will be taking a break from work and going on maternity leave. At the Maa Inti Bangaaram success meet she said, “Sorry guys, one more small gap and then I will be back. I know I have to take maternity leave now. But I am very happy.”
Swetha Menon’s Film On Pregnancy
While Samantha Ruth Prabhu has announced a short break from work, another actress chose to continue acting during her pregnancy. That is Malayalam actor Shwetha Menon. While the decision itself may not seem unusual, what stood out was her choice to film real footage of childbirth for a movie. Yes, you read that right.
Shwetha Menon’s Bold Move
Shwetha Menon made headlines when she chose to film her pregnancy and real-life childbirth for the 2013 Malayalam film Kalimannu, directed by Blessy. She delivered a baby girl on September 28, 2012, at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, with the delivery captured on camera.
Swetha Menon gave birth while filming Kalimannu
The film captured the full experience of childbirth, including the discomfort and pain Shwetha Menon went through, which were real rather than staged. The makers of Kalimannu had set up cameras inside the operation theatre to record the delivery.
When The Shoot Caused Controversy
Several including some women’s rights groups and political organisations, argued that turning a woman’s most private biological moment into a commercial film shoot was unethical. There were also reports of boycott threats from theatre exhibitors in Kerala, who said they would refuse to screen the film if the delivery scene was included.
A Former Beauty Pageant Winner
Apart from films, Shwetha Menon is also a pageant winner, having been crowned Femina Miss India Asia Pacific 1994. She has predominantly acted in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films and has won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actress.
Swetha Menon Resigns From AMMA
Recently, Shwetha Menon stepped down as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) amid internal problems. She has since alleged that certain vested interests prevented her committee from investigating alleged wrongdoings of members of the previous leadership. This comes in a time when Ansiba Hassan raised allegations against Tini Tom in the organisation.