Samantha Ruth Prabhu mourns the loss of her father, Joseph Prabhu

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu announced the passing of her father, Joseph Prabhu, on Friday, sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. "Until we meet again, Dad," she wrote, expressing her grief. The cause of his death has not yet been revealed.

As the news spread, fans and colleagues from the film industry extended their condolences.

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Born in Chennai to Joseph Prabhu, a Telugu Anglo-Indian, and Ninette Prabhu, Samantha grew up in the Pallavaram neighborhood with her two older brothers, Jonathan and David. She has often credited her family for supporting her through the challenges of her career.

However, Samantha had previously spoken about her "strained" relationship with her father. In an interview, she revealed how his protective parenting and critical views influenced her self-perception, instilling in her a drive for validation.

In 2022, Joseph Prabhu made headlines when he reflected on Samantha’s divorce from actor Naga Chaitanya. Sharing old wedding photos on Facebook, he wrote, "Long long ago, there was a story. And it doesn’t exist anymore. So, let’s start a new story and a new chapter."

Samantha and Chaitanya married in 2017 and announced their divorce in 2021.