Putting an end to speculations regarding her exit from Citadel, the makers of the show finally announced Samantha Ruth Prabhu's name in the lead. Amazon Prime Video confirmed that she will be headlining the thriller with Varun Dhawan. The Indian installment of the Citadel universe is directed by Raj & DK. The Hindi version is written by Sita R. Menon, along with Raj & DK.
Samantha said, "When Prime Video and Raj & DK approached me with this project, I decided to take it up in a heartbeat! After working with this team on The Family Man, it is homecoming for me. The Citadel universe, the interconnected storylines between the productions across the globe, and most importantly, the script of the Indian installment really excited me. I am thrilled to be a part of this brilliant universe conceptualised by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO. I am also looking forward to be working with Varun for the first time, on this project. He is someone who is full of life and cheer when you’re around him."
Reuniting with Samantha after The Family Man 2, Raj & DK shared, "We are elated to work with Samantha once again after The Family Man. Once we had the script down on paper, she was an obvious choice for this character. We couldn’t be happier to have her on board. We are thrilled to have started production on Citadel India. The first leg is being shot in India, before we move onwards to Serbia and South Africa. We have an amazing crew and a tremendously talented cast, which makes the creative process all the more exciting."
Aparna Purohit, head of India Originals, Prime Video, said, "We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Samantha once again. She made her streaming debut with The Family Man Season Two, on Prime Video, and is one of the most talented artistes in the industry today. We can’t wait for audiences to see her on screen in a brand new avatar, along with Varun and the incredibly talented ensemble cast we have on board for this series. The canvas for the Indian installment of Citadel is larger than life but the treatment and texture is retro, rooted, and quirky. The series is being shot extensively across India and international locales. With Raj & DK steering this ship and a terrifically talented cast, we are confident that the series is going to be nothing short of a spectacle."
Rumours were rife that Samantha had quit Citadel after she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Myositis. Amid her treatment, the actress has been working nonstop. While she shoots for Citadel, Samantha is gearing up for the release of Shaakuntalam this month.
