Old video shared as actor Samantha endorsing TDP for Andhra Pradesh elections

By: Rajeswari Parasa
March 13 2024

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Screenshot of the claim circulating online (Source:Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

What is the claim?

A 14-second video featuring actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu is circulating on social media platforms, including Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter), with claims that she has expressed support for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the upcoming Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, a southern Indian state.

In the video, Samantha states, "I am your Samantha. Vote for Development. Cast your vote for the Cycle symbol." This segment is repeated several times within the short duration of the video. The Cycle symbol represents the TDP, which is contesting the Andhra Pradesh elections in collaboration with the Jana Sena Party, led by actor-politician Pawan Kalyan. Links to the archived posts can be accessed here, here, and here.

However, this claim is misleading. The video is old, and Samantha has not publicly endorsed any party for the forthcoming elections.

Screenshots of the claim made online (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

What did we find?

The viral video exhibits multiple jump cuts and abrupt edits, suggesting it might have been extracted from a longer clip or edited together. Additionally, no credible reports suggest Samantha endorsed the Telugu Desam Party led by former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Our investigation uncovered news reports from 2019 showing Samantha voicing support for TDP candidate Anagani Satya Prasad during the assembly elections five years ago in the Repalle constituency of Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district.

The original video, shared across various social media platforms in 2019, lasts 12 seconds. It features Samantha saying in Telugu, "I am your Samantha. Our Repalle, our Anagani. Vote for development, vote for Anagani Satya Prasad, and ensure his victory by a significant majority. Vote for the Cycle symbol."

The viral video omits the segment from 0:02 to 0:10 of the original video, where Samantha mentions Repalle and Anagani Satya Prasad, editing the remainder to falsely suggest her endorsement of TDP for the elections.

A report published by The Hindu on April 10, 2019, also discussed the original video featuring Samantha endorsing TDP candidate Anagani Satya Prasad. It noted that the actor did not share the video on her official social media accounts, but it still went viral in 2019 through other social media platforms. The report included quotes from social media users who criticized her for not officially releasing the video and expressed curiosity about Samantha's connection to Anagani and the reasons for her endorsement.

Clearing the air in 2019, Samantha replied to a user on X and said that Anagani is a ‘family friend’ and that she knows Anagani through his sister Dr Manjula Anagani, who is the co-founder of a non-governmental organization called Pratyusha Foundation. According to The Hindu report and the NGO's official website, the Pratyusha Foundation was founded by Samantha in February 2014. 

The Pratyusha Foundation's 'About Us' page provides further context.
 (Source: Pratyusha Foundation/Screenshot)

Additionally, Logically Facts contacted Samantha's team, who confirmed that she has not supported any political party in the current election cycle and that the circulating video pertains to a specific candidate endorsement from the past.

The verdict 

A 2019 video of Samantha Ruth Prabhu endorsing a TDP candidate has been misrepresented as recent. Samantha has not backed any political party for the upcoming Andhra Pradesh elections. Therefore, we have marked this claim as misleading.