From Samantha Ruth Prabhu to Nayanthara: What South India’s Biggest Stars Do Away From Film Sets

For actors who spend months moving between film sets, promotional events and public appearances, free time can become something precious. Once the cameras stop rolling and the day’s work is over, South Indian stars have interests that take them well beyond cinema.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sai Pallavi, Rashmika Mandanna and Nayanthara have each been associated with hobbies and personal interests that offer a glimpse into their lives away from the spotlight. Their choices range from wellness and spirituality to dance, travel, reading and music.

These interests also show that there is no single definition of a celebrity lifestyle. While some stars prefer quiet routines, others use their downtime to explore new places or reconnect with long-standing passions.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu: Fitness, Yoga and Spirituality

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has frequently spoken about the importance of fitness and wellness in her life. Exercise has remained an important part of her routine, while yoga and meditation have also featured prominently in her public discussions about wellbeing.

Her association with the Isha Yoga Centre has further reflected her interest in spirituality and introspection. Away from the demands of acting, these practices provide a different kind of routine—one centred on physical wellbeing as well as mental balance.

Samantha has also explored entrepreneurship outside acting. Her professional interests therefore extend beyond simply appearing in films, giving her another creative and business-oriented outlet away from the screen.

For an actor whose career keeps her constantly in the public eye, wellness appears to be one of the ways she creates space for herself.

Sai Pallavi: Dance and an Unusual Interest in Beekeeping

Dance has been part of Sai Pallavi’s life since long before she became a widely recognised actor. Her background in dance is also visible in the natural movement and energy she brings to screen performances.

But one of the more unusual interests associated with Sai Pallavi is beekeeping.

The actor has spoken about her experience with beekeeping, including getting stung while learning about the activity. It is an unexpected hobby for a major film personality and offers a very different picture of life away from movie sets.

Unlike a conventional celebrity pastime, beekeeping involves patience, hands-on work and an element of unpredictability. That makes it particularly distinctive among the interests associated with Indian film stars.

Rashmika Mandanna: Travel, Food and Exploring New Places

Rashmika Mandanna has often shared her enthusiasm for travel and discovering new experiences.

For the actor, travelling is not simply about visiting famous destinations. Food, local culture and everyday experiences can also become part of the journey. Exploring unfamiliar places and trying local cuisine allow her to experience destinations beyond the typical tourist itinerary.

Her connection with Coorg, where she spent part of her childhood, is another important part of her relationship with travel and home. The region’s natural beauty and monsoon season have been among the things she has expressed affection for over the years.

With an acting career that requires extensive travel for shoots and promotions, it is perhaps fitting that exploring new places remains an interest of hers.

Nayanthara: Reading, Music and Long Drives

Nayanthara’s interests away from work appear considerably quieter.

The actor has been associated with reading books, listening to music and going on long drives. These are simple forms of downtime, but they offer an effective escape from the highly scheduled nature of the entertainment industry.

Reading can provide a private break from the constant attention surrounding celebrity life, while music can become an easy way to relax after a demanding day.

Long drives offer another form of solitude. Away from film sets, public appearances and professional commitments, time on the road can provide an opportunity to unwind without the structure of a typical workday.

Four Stars, Four Different Ways to Unwind

The interests of Samantha, Sai Pallavi, Rashmika and Nayanthara highlight four very different approaches to life outside cinema.

Samantha leans towards wellness, yoga and introspection. Sai Pallavi maintains her connection with dance while also pursuing an unusually hands-on interest. Rashmika enjoys discovering places, food and experiences, while Nayanthara appears to favour quieter activities such as books, music and driving.

Their hobbies are interesting precisely because they do not necessarily have anything to do with acting.

Why Celebrity Hobbies Offer a Different Perspective

Film careers are built around public performances, but hobbies can reveal another side of an actor’s personality. They are activities pursued for relaxation, curiosity or personal enjoyment rather than for a film role.

For celebrities, maintaining those private interests can be especially valuable. Their professional lives involve constant schedules, cameras and public scrutiny, making ordinary personal routines an important form of balance.

Whether it is practising yoga, dancing, caring for bees, discovering a new restaurant or simply taking a long drive with music playing, these activities show that even the biggest stars need time away from the spotlight.