Samantha Ruth Prabhu lets out a loud hurrah on pickleball court no. 5 at Chennai’s Sathyabhama University — she has just hit a winner. At The Arena inside this campus, where the Chennai Open was recently played, you would hardly think of pickleball as a nascent sport. With more than 500 registrations across 40-plus categories, players battled for on-court glory and a prize pool of ₹25 lakh in a sport that blends badminton, tennis and table tennis — earning it the catchphrase: “the game anyone can play”.
In the middle of the action is actress Samantha, whom many of us know as the leading lady of superhit films like Theri and Rangasthalam. As the owner of Chennai Super Champs, which will compete at the World Pickleball League Season 2 beginning January 2026, the actor is determined to use her star power to draw attention to the sport.
“My biggest dream has been to see India go from being a sports-watching nation to a sports-playing one,” she states, “Pickleball will take us there… because it is the most non-intimidating sport. It can build communities.”
Samantha during the Chennai Open at Sathyabhama University
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Special Arrangement
In Chennai alone, the number of courts has increased dramatically over the past year or so, with players migrating from other racquet sports to pickleball. It is the case in many other Indian cities as well. In the recently-concluded Chennai Open, the organisers had to close entries because “the demand was crazy”. Samantha admits she did not expect this momentum. “When we signed the deal [with Chennai Super Champs] one and a half years ago, I had no idea that the sport was going to grow so massively.”
That signing remains special to her because Samantha — who hails from Pallavaram in the city – was determined to bag the Chennai team. “I remember Gaurav [Gaurav Natekar, CEO, World Pickleball League] was not ready to give the Chennai team. I told him, ‘If I’m not getting Chennai, I’m not doing this.’ It’s important that whatever I do has to tie with home and where I come from. Today, I might be up and about in many places but everything returns home.”
Health matters
The actor’s fascination for pickleball also ties is neatly with her interest in health and fitness — the theme of her popular podcast called ‘Take 20’. Her interest intensified, she says, because of own health complications. (In 2022, Samantha was diagnosed with myositis, a rare autoimmune condition that causes muscle weakness and fatigue.)
Samantha
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“Even though I had the luxury of having access to the best doctors and medical treatment, I felt an immense sense of helplessness as I did not have the education to handle what I was going through,” she recalls, “I remember thinking that no one should feel this helpless. Although people follow me for films, they are also consuming these health tips that might come in handy someday. People have multiple life problems, but when they have a health issue, that becomes the only issue.”
Months of hospital visits and constant medication also meant that Samantha had to apply the brakes on her thriving film career. “As actors, we have this ego that we are invincible and film projects will keep coming. You don’t ever think that all this will suddenly stop. When I was diagnosed with myositis, life just came to a halt.”
This forced break led to new ideas, including perfume brand, Secret Alchemist, and a fashion venture, Truly SMA. “I’m thriving now, with the most work I have ever had. Everything that you see about me is a result of what I envisioned during those dark times. I’m living everything that I dreamt of,” she smiles.
She is also excited about returning to films in a bigger way. “I’m currently producing and starring in Maa Inti Bangaram. It is extremely exciting and fun. It feels so good to be back on a film set.”
For the moment, though, she is happy playing pickleball games with her team.
Full-time actress or part-time player? She laughs. “I’m average. But I’ve improved a lot because I make it a point to play three times a week,” she says. Then, she challenges us to a game — and we accept.
WPBL Founders Gaurav Natekar and Arati Ponappa Natekar
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Special Arrangement
Game on
For Gaurav Natekar, sport has been a way of life. An Arjuna awardee, Gaurav has been associated with tennis for a long time. His wife, Arati Ponnappa, too was also a national-level tennis player. Gaurav’s father, Nandu Natekar, was among the top badminton players of his time. “Sport has always been in our blood,” says Gaurav, “Pickleball was an opportunity we saw a couple of years ago. We are happy that the game is growing fast in popularity. Samantha has been a fabulous ambassador for the sport and has been personally involved with the growth of the game.”
Published – November 17, 2025 05:31 pm IST
