Harshith Reddy On Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Subham

In an exclusive interview, Harshith Reddy shares how fate landed him the lead role in Subham, his dream debut. He opens up about working with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the challenges of comedy-horror and his journey from a non-film background to being the face of a much-awaited release.

What was your first reaction when you were offered Subham?
When I was offered Subham, it was honestly a life-changing moment. I had been waiting for the right debut script for so long, and when I heard the concept of Subham, it just felt like everything had fallen into place. What makes it even more surreal is how random it was.

What do you mean?
Raj Nidimoru sir (Raj & DK) spotted me at the airport, he recognised me from my first film Mail and called me ‘Mail abbayi’. Raj sir mentioned they were working on a script and had me in mind as an option. He said meeting at the airport was a sign that we should do this, and it just felt like fate. It was such a turning point in my life, and I’m beyond grateful for this unexpected, life-altering chance. It felt like everything had aligned perfectly.

And to have Samantha Ruth Prabhu as your producer?
When I found out that Samantha Ma’am was producing it, it felt like life had come full circle. I had once auditioned for Oh Baby to be a part of a band in the film, but I didn’t get the part. Who would’ve thought that years later, I’d be playing the lead in her first production? It was a dream come true. I’ve always been a huge admirer of her work, and I somehow knew I would work with her one day. I’m so happy it happened with Subham.

Comedy-horror is not easy to pull off, but you have succeeded. How tough was the challenge?
Comedy-horror is definitely a tough genre to pull off because you have to find the right balance between humor and fear, and timing is everything. But I was lucky to have done a lot of workshops with our director Praveen Kandregula and all my co-actors before the shoot, which really helped me discover my character and understand the horror aspect. We also had a workshop with Samantha Ma’am, which was incredibly helpful in giving me a deeper understanding of my role. It gave me a strong starting point and then I kept building on it throughout the process. It was a challenging but exciting journey, and seeing the teaser’s response makes me feel like all the effort has paid off!

Tell me about your background. Was your chosen profession always cinema?
I come from a non-film background, without any direct guidance in the industry. But performing and entertaining have always come naturally to me, even since my school days. Somehow, cinema kept pulling me toward it. I just kept doing my work and stayed committed to honing my craft and improving myself at every step. I’ve always trusted my gut feeling when it comes to choosing scripts, and I believe that instinct has led me here. Looking back, I feel like good scripts chose me, and for that, I feel extremely blessed.

Subham is also a first for your producer Samantha. What was she like as a first-time producer?
Samantha was amazing as a first-time producer. From the moment we started, she was so hands-on and genuinely cared about the entire team. She was warm, approachable, and always there to support us, making sure everything was going smoothly. I still remember her saying, ‘I’ll give you a nice debut film,’ the first time we met, and that meant the world to me. It didn’t feel like it was her first production; she handled everything with such ease and confidence. It’s truly a great honour to be a part of her first production. The entire experience was unforgettable.

Who are your favourite actors and role models in the film industry?
I look up to many people in the industry. Chiranjeevi Gaaru and Irrfan Khan sir are actors I feel personally connected to, and their work has always moved me. Nani Gaaru, Vijay Anna, and Samantha Ma’am’s journeys have inspired me a lot — they’ve shown how hard work and dedication can take you places. In recent times, Allu Arjun sir’s work has been truly inspiring to me. His dedication to his craft and the way he connects with audiences is something I deeply admire.

Subham looks like your career’s beginning. Where would you like to go from here?
I see Subham as the exciting start of my career, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity. Moving forward, I want to continue exploring diverse roles and work with talented filmmakers who challenge me as an actor. I hope to keep growing with every project, learning new things, and expanding my horizons in the industry. My ultimate goal is to be part of films that leave a lasting impact and to contribute to storytelling that excites and inspires people.