November 11, 2024: On the set of Citadel: Honey Bunny, Varun Dhawan witnessed co-star Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s immense determination as she battled a serious medical condition during filming. Her health challenges—painful cramps, reliance on an oxygen tank, and even collapsing during intense shots—left a lasting impression on Varun and the crew, who were both concerned and inspired by her resilience.
Varun recently shared his experiences from the Citadel set, describing the difficult moments he saw Samantha go through. He spoke about her painful cramps, her need for oxygen between takes, and a moment when she collapsed during filming. Varun’s concern for her well-being was palpable as he recounted these incidents.
Samantha opened up about her journey, calling herself “stubborn” and noting that she has always been independent in making decisions and learning from mistakes. However, her health struggles left her feeling isolated, at times convinced she wouldn’t be able to work in front of the camera again. For the first time, she trusted her Citadel team with her well-being, allowing their faith in her abilities to guide her through one of her most challenging times.
Expressing immense gratitude, Samantha credited her Citadel team for helping her find the strength to continue. Their unwavering support and belief in her abilities motivated her to push through and even inspired her healing journey. Without them, she feels she would have struggled longer to regain her health and confidence.
Varun shared his perspective on Samantha’s perseverance, recalling moments on set when she closed her eyes, admitting she was having “one of those days.” He recounted how she needed oxygen after just a couple of hours of shooting, which worried him deeply. Despite her condition, Samantha’s dedication to the project was unwavering. Even when she could have rested, she pushed herself, taking breaks only to use the oxygen tank before resuming her performance.
One particularly distressing incident occurred during a shoot in Serbia, where Samantha collapsed after running. Seeing her condition, Varun tried to halt the shoot, but the crew assured him she would be okay. He expressed his feelings of helplessness and frustration, watching her push through despite visible discomfort.
Another intense moment was recalled by their director, Raj, who described Samantha cramping and in tears as she walked up steps for a shot. She was determined to finish filming but ultimately collapsed, prompting Raj to cut the scene and have her carried off by her support team.
Varun reflected on a powerful moment when Samantha broke down on set, yet continued to radiate strength. Her endurance in the face of such pain gave him a new perspective, making him realise the significance of resilience and determination. Her journey has left a lasting impact on Varun and the Citadel team, proving that true strength shines even in the most challenging circumstances.
Watch our review in Hindi of Citadel: Honey Bunny
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