The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by the police challenging the bail granted to former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 riots in the capital, Bar and Bench reported. While hearing the appeal against her bail
Nazakat Ali's phone rings in the evening, as it often does now. The 30-year-old tourist guide in Indian-administered Kashmir answers with the same practised calm every time - yes, it is safe; yes, he will be there; yes, they should come. On the other end are people planning holidays to the stunning
Rivalries make sport tick. But sometimes, respect speaks louder than competition. And right now, that’s exactly what Jannik Sinner is doing for Carlos Alcaraz. In a major blow to the clay-court season, Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from French Open next month due to a wrist injury
Domestic worker in Singapore alleges British Indian family made her sleep on yoga mat: ‘I felt uncomfortable'A domestic worker in Singapore claimed a British Indian family made her sleep on a yoga mat and allegedly refused to pay for four days of work. Updated on: Apr 25
Just when Real Madrid thought the door to the La Liga title race had creaked open, it slammed shut loudly and painfully. A frustrating 1-1 draw against Real Betis did the immediate damage on the pitch. But the bigger blow? An untimely injury to their talisman, Kylian Mbappe
Heart disease no longer waits until middle age and according to new cholesterol guidance, both doctors and patients are urged to also change their way of thinking. The latest recommendations from leading medical bodies, including the American College of Cardiology
U.S. negotiators are scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Saturday (April 25, 2026), but Iran said its officials did not plan to meet the Americans to discuss ending the war that has killed thousands and roiled global markets. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday targeted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal over his new bungalow at Lodhi Estate in Delhi, calling it “Sheesh Mahal 2” and alleging the use of private money for high-end upgrades. AAP rejected the charges, terming them false
Why Samantha Ruth Prabhu is betting big on pickleball’s India boom
Why Samantha Ruth Prabhu is betting big on pickleball’s India boom Premium
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 | Photo Credit: 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 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“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 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Published - November 17, 2025 05:31 pm IST
The Hindu MetroPlus / Tamil cinema / health / The Hindu Weekend
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Samantha Ruth Prabhu-Raj Nidimoru Play Pickleball Samantha Ruth Prabhu celebrates Diwali with rumoured boyfriend Raj Nidimoru Samantha Ruth Prabhu Returns To Hyderabad Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Push-Up Challenge Is A Lesson In Strength And Focus Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’ Release Date Announced Salman Khan To Share Screen Space With Samantha Ruth Prabhu In Raj & DK’s Quirky Superhero Drama Pushpa girls Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Sreeleela put rift rumours to rest Samantha Ruth Prabhu jokes she is Raj Nidimoru’s ‘problem now’ after wedding Samantha Ruth Prabhu flexes impressive toned back and sculpted biceps in new pic Samantha Ruth Prabhu flaunts her muscles
India’s running culture is seeing a noticeable shift. Weekend race calendars are filling up, city running clubs are expanding, and more professionals are quietly building distance into already packed schedules. In this environment, a daily trainer needs to do more than soften impact
2 hours ago
A group of Republican lawmakers in the United States has proposed a bill seeking a three-year pause on the issuance of H-1B visas, along with a major overhaul of the programme. The legislation, titled the “End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026," has been introduced by Eli Crane
2 hours ago
Islamabad faces a week-long security lockdown. Markets are deserted and transport disrupted. This is the second lockdown in recent weeks. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived for talks. US officials were also expected. Hopes remain for engagements to promote regional peace and stability
2 hours ago
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday affirmed support for fellow leader Pawan Khera, who is facing an FIR filed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, over allegations linked to her possessing multiple passports
2 hours ago
In India, innovation doesn’t always come from labs or big companies. Sometimes, it comes from a problem that needs solving right now, with whatever is available. It’s a word people use for quick, practical fixes. But over time, some of these fixes have turned into ideas that are surprisingly
2 hours ago
Twenty-three percent of the candidates contesting the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal have declared criminal cases in their affidavits, a report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms has shown. The report released on Tuesday analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 2
2 hours ago
Bhullar stands tall as fault lines appear in SingaporeIndian golfers struggled at the Singapore Open, with only three making the cut, highlighting a concerning trend in their performance on the international stage. Updated on: Apr 25, 2026 1:49 PM IST By Shantanu Srivastava Share via Copy link
2 hours ago
April 25 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for you If your birthday falls on April 25, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot Updated on: Apr 25, 2026 11:24 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on April 25
2 hours ago
The negotiating teams of India and the U.S. held “constructive” and “forward-looking” talks on a trade deal, the Indian government said following the conclusion of the talks. The talks took place in Washington on April 20-23, 2026. India and the U.S
2 hours ago
In a job market currently under stress from daily news of layoffs and hiring freezes, one Gurugram-based techie, Priyanka Giri has given us a dose of hope and happiness by sharing her story. After being unemployed for four months and facing rejections from Meta and Microsoft
2 hours ago
uaresults.nic.in, UBSE UK Board Results 2026 Class 10th, 12th Live: The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE), Dehradun, has announced the Class 10 and Class 12 examination results 2026 today, April 25. This year, 98.20% of students passed the Class 10 examination, compared to 90
2 hours ago
Endoscopic neurospine surgeon breaks down top exercises for posture and spine health: From squats and sit-ups to planksNote that every exercise is spine-friendly. Neurospine surgeons list down the top exercises for a pain-free back. Published on: Apr 25
2 hours ago
Former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has released a new book. It reveals lesser-known stories from India's armed forces. The book unearths military myths and mysteries. It includes tales of soldiers, naval incidents, and airmen. The book is researched and readable. It highlights duty
2 hours ago
On Friday, she announced plans to launch a new regional political force in the state, asserting that it will focus on the “aspirations and unfinished agenda” of the state. Around seven months after quitting the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K
2 hours ago
Mumbai, Apr 25 (PTI) Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar is set to appear in an action-drama movie, titled, “Bail", the makers have announced. The makers unveiled the first look of the film, which coincides with Shiva Rajkumar’s father Dr Rajkumar’s 97th birth anniversary, on Friday.Mumbai
2 hours ago
India, US agree to remain engaged after trade talksThe Indian delegation, led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, discussed “multiple areas such as market access, non-tariff measures, technical barriers to trade, customs and trade facilitation Published on: Apr 25
2 hours ago
It's not often a thousand-word social media post from a US tech firm goes viral. But the post from Palantir - a 22-point manifesto of sorts - currently has over 30 million views on X. It is the work of the controversial company's co-founder and chief executive
2 hours ago
Kyiv, Apr 25 (AP) Russian drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least three people and wounded 21, local authorities said Saturday. The bodies of the three were found in the ruins of a house destroyed in the overnight attacks
2 hours ago
EBITDA decreased by 4%, and margins contracted to 15.0% while the capital expenditure for the quarter was Rs 40,560 crore. Reliance Industries has reported a decline in the Net Profit by 9% QoQ to Rs 16,971 Crore from Rs 18,645 Crore while its revenue increased by 11% to Rs 2,94,059 crore from Rs 2
2 hours ago
New Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the first woman to lead the world's Anglican Christians, heads to Rome and the Vatican this weekend for an audience with Pope Leo XIV. Archbishop Mullally will meet the head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics during a four-day visit starting on
2 hours ago
Annu Kapoor has opened up about his sister Seema Kapoor’s brief marriage to Om Puri. In a recent interview, Annu accused the late actor of ruining his sister’s life and claimed that he ‘betrayed’ her. “Om Puri was a phenomenal actor. There was no great actor like him
2 hours ago
Exclusive | ‘Taal 2 script is almost complete’: Confirms Subhash Ghai, lauds Ahaan Panday-Aneet Padda's SaiyaaraIn a chat with HT City, filmmaker Subhash Ghai opens up about his plans for Taal 2, a sequel to Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna's 1999 film Updated on: Apr 25
2 hours ago
Raghav Chadha joins BJP: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday took a sharp jibe at Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and other Rajya Sabha MPs after they joined the BJP after severing ties with the AAP. The Punjab unit of the AAP shared a poster on Facebook featuring the defected MPs, viz.
2 hours ago
"Hammer your facial bones to chisel your jawlines." "The only real goal is to get better looking – no matter what it takes." These are suggestions shared online by so-called "masculinity influencers": men who promote what they say are ways to become more masculine
2 hours ago
Pakistan's answer to Dhurandhar? All about film Mera Lyari, which Sindh minister called counter to 'India's propaganda'Pakistani film, Mera Lyari, releasing in May, is being called the ‘answer to Dhurandhar’, the blockbuster Bollywood film also set in Karachi's Lyari Town. Apr 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Paytm says it has no exposure to Paytm Payments Bank and does not have any material business arrangements with the entity. Paytm on Friday said the cancellation of the banking licence of associate entity Paytm Payments Bank by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will have no financial or business
2 hours ago
Every year, as the snow melts and the Himalayan trails come alive, thousands of pilgrims and trekkers make their way to Hemkund Sahib, which happens to be one of the highest gurudwaras in the world. Nestled at an altitude of 4,329 metres in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district
2 hours ago
