The Heart Of The Matter

Soft-spoken, yet articulate. Funny, with a laugh that resonates. And, that confidence. A spark that lights up a room. SAMANTHA RUTH PRABHU gives Shilpa Dubey a glimpse into what it takes to be a self-made superstar in India

- Shilpa Dubey

The year is 2005, or maybe 2006? Samantha Ruth Prabhu is sitting with her girlfriends from college. The barely20-somethings are playing a game. Each of them takes a turn to say what they wish for in life. Someone hopes for a good boy, someone else, a good-looking husband. Samantha wants a house. "I think my biggest dream was to afford a house I could call my own," she reminisces. "That was always the dream. Back then, it was more than enough; I wouldn't have dared to dream bigger than that." That's exactly why she is not quite comfortable with this memory today. She wants her younger self to have wished for more, to have dreamt bigger, and to not have been afraid of her ambitions. "I'm not saying it will be easy, but you should not be afraid to dream big. You have every right to dream big. You are allowed to have the biggest ambitions. If you're thinking of a little white house, change that dream. Dream of a mansion! Dream it all!" The camera captures her conviction as she appeals to young women everywhere to not settle for less. She arrived, warm and almost nonchalant, in a grey jumpsuit to our cover shoot set. She switched to siren mode in a hot second once in front of the camera, and didn't take a break until it was pack-up time. Once she starts something, the lady sees it through.