Varun Recalls When He Punched Citadel Co-Star Samantha During Shoot

Varun was candid about Samantha's shooting for Citadel after she was diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune disorder. He said, “Honestly, my preparation was very easy 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.”

He added that she inspired her and the rest of the team with her dedication while shooting despite all odds, saying, “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 a lot about human resilience and strength when you see someone battling something and still succeeding. Samantha inspired not just me, but also Raj, DK, Sita, and everyone at Amazon. Her dedication to this action show is truly inspirational.”

In March this year, Samantha revealed on her health podcast, Take 20, that shooting for the series was difficult. Talking to her co-host and wellness coach, Alkesh Sharotri, she said, “I had to finish Kushi (her Telugu film with Vijay Deverakonda), and I had to shoot for Citadel, which is extremely physical. There’s a lot of action involved. So it was very strenuous.”