‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’: Varun Dhawan on Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s Unwavering Spirit. At the teaser launch of the Amazon Prime web series Citadel: Honey Bunny, Varun Dhawan expressed his admiration for his co-star Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The pair will be seen in Raj & DK’s much-anticipated series, and Varun’s respect for Samantha’s dedication, especially given her health challenges, was clear.
Samantha’s Myositis Battle
In 2022, Samantha Ruth Prabhu was diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune disorder that affects muscle strength. Despite this, she took on the physically demanding role in Citadel: Honey Bunny. Varun Dhawan shared his amazement at her resilience, saying, “Honestly, my preparation was straightforward compared to Samantha’s. It’s public knowledge what she was battling when she joined the show. I thought my rehearsals were tough. But then I saw her incredible work ethic despite her struggles, and it truly inspired me.”
Inspiration on Set: Varun emphasised how Samantha’s dedication inspired not just him but the entire team. He remarked, “I’ve never been on a shoot or a creative process like that before, where I witnessed a co-actor going through such challenges. You learn much about human resilience and strength when you see someone battling something and succeeding. Samantha inspired not just me, but also Raj, DK, Sita, and everyone at Amazon. Her dedication to this action show is truly inspirational.”
Samantha’s Struggles During Filming
In March, Samantha discussed the difficulties she faced while shooting for the series on her health podcast, Take 20. She revealed that the physically demanding nature of the role often led to severe spasms and even caused her to pass out on set. She recounted, “Many, many calls were made to you (Alkesh) in the middle of shoot – she’s having a spasm, she’s cramping. I passed out and I had a concussion.”
About ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’
Citadel: Honey Bunny is the Indian adaptation of the American web series Citadel. Created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh, and David Weil, with the Russo Brothers as executive producers. The original series featured Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden in lead roles. The Indian version stars Sikandar Kher, Kay Kay Menon, Saqib Saleem, and Emma Canning alongside Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The series is set to release on November 7 This Year.