Samantha Ruth Prabhu does seated cable rows in third trimester: 'Please don't make me get up'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, currently in her third trimester, offered a candid glimpse into her pregnancy fitness routine on Friday, sharing a workout video on social media that struck a chord for its balance of determination and humour. The mom-to-be is expecting her first child with husband and filmmaker Raj Nidimoru in December 2026.
The Workout and What She Said
In the clip, Samantha is seen performing seated cable rows — a strength-training exercise that targets the upper back and arms — using a cable machine with controlled movements, her growing baby bump clearly visible. Seated cable rows involve pulling a resistance handle towards the torso while maintaining a stable, seated position, making the exercise relatively safe and low-impact during pregnancy.
Captioning the video, she wrote: 'Equal parts strong till the very end and please don't make me get up.' The line captures both her commitment to staying active and the very real physical demands of late pregnancy.
A Shifting Approach to Fitness
This is not Samantha's first prenatal workout post. Earlier in her pregnancy, she had shared glimpses of her strength-training sessions and articulated a change in mindset. In one such post, she wrote: 'Training looks a little different these days. Less about pushing harder. More about listening better.'
Notably, that post also featured a seated cable row — suggesting the exercise has become a consistent, trusted part of her trimester-adapted routine. Fitness experts and physiotherapists generally consider seated, low-impact resistance training appropriate in late pregnancy when cleared by a healthcare provider, though Samantha has not specified any medical guidance in her posts.
The Seemantham Ceremony
Beyond the gym, Samantha and Raj recently celebrated a traditional baby shower known as Seemantham, held at Sadhguru's Isha Foundation in Coimbatore. The intimate ceremony drew from the Srividya tradition, including rituals such as Kalaa Aavarana (Sri Kalpam). Samantha shared photographs from the occasion and explained the significance of each ritual to her followers.
The couple had married in December 2025 at the Linga Bhairavi Temple within the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, in what was reported as an intimate ceremony.
What This Reflects
Samantha's public documentation of her pregnancy fitness journey has resonated widely, offering a counter-narrative to the idea that pregnancy necessitates complete rest. As her due date approaches, her posts continue to generate conversation around prenatal wellness and body autonomy during pregnancy. With the baby expected in December 2026, her followers are watching the final weeks of this chapter closely.