From MS Subbulakshmi to Jaya Prada: Actresses who have played Shakuntala before Samantha

New Delhi: Samantha Ruth Prabhu is turning into a princess in her upcoming film ‘Shaakuntalam’. The film is based on the mythological epic play ‘Abhijnanashakuntalam’, written by poet Kalidasa. Taking to her social media handle, the actor shared a list of actors who have played the titular role of Shakuntala in previous film adaptations of the play.

Sharing a collage, Samantha posted the pictures of MS Subbulakshmi, Jayashree, B Saroja Devi, Anita, Sandhya, Jaya Prada, Dorothy and Kamalabai, who played the character of Shakuntala. The collage also had Samantha’s picture in her costume.

What an honour??#ShaakuntalamOnApril14 pic.twitter.com/vZDmPInzJU

— Samantha (@Samanthaprabhu2) April 12, 2023

In 1920, SN Patankar cast Tara Koregaonkar in his film as Shakuntala while Kamalabai, who is known as the first Telugu actress, starred in the 1932 film ‘Shakuntala’. Singer MS Subbulakshmi starred in ‘Sakuntalai’ while USA-based actor Dorothy Kingdon starred in a 1920 film. Jaya Prada played the character in the Kannada film ‘Kaviraj Kalidas’ while Sandhya Shantaram and Jayashree Shantaram have also gone in the skin of the character.

‘Shaakuntalam’ stars Dev Mohan as King Dushyant opposite Samantha. Directed by Gunasekhar, the film also features Kabir Bedi, Aditi Balan Prakash Raj and Gautami.

The film is a modern-day mythology with the plot intact and also shows Dushyant and Shakuntala’s son Bharat, and it is said that it was him after whom India got named. Allu Arjun’s daughter Allu Arha stars as Bharat in the film. The trailer has shown Samantha lamenting her lost love while King Dushyant is shown as a valiant king.

The film will hit the theatres on April 14.