Following her 2021 divorce from Naga Chaitanya, actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu made her first public appearance with her former mother-in-law, Amala Akkineni, at the Zee Telugu Awards.

A widely circulated video from the event shows Samantha giving a heartfelt speech, thanking her fans and audience for their continued support throughout her journey in the film industry. Amala, seated in the audience, was seen applauding Samantha, visibly proud and supportive of her ex-daughter-in-law.

Social media users reacted warmly to the moment. One user remarked, “Nagarjuna’s wife claps,” while another commented, “How sweetly Amala appreciates her.” A third viewer noted Amala’s presence at the awards.

Samantha and Naga Chaitanya were married in 2017 and separated after four years. In a past interview, Samantha reflected on the emotional toll her separation took. She recalled a particular day in June, while traveling from Mumbai with her manager Himank, when she finally felt a sense of peace. “It had been a very difficult year. I told him I finally felt calm after a long time—that I could sleep, breathe, and focus on my work. And then, I woke up with this health condition,” she shared, alluding to her later diagnosis.

Since their split, Chaitanya has reportedly tied the knot with actress Sobhita Dhulipala, while Samantha is rumoured to be in a relationship with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru.