Published from Mumbai, Delhi & Bhopal

Stopped speaking on phone due to spam calls: Samantha

New Delhi: For a celebrity, it’s not uncommon to receive fan calls and messages, which can be quick to spam. Indian actress Samantha Akkineni says that over the years, she has stopped speaking over phone due to unwanted calls, and even her friends and family have to message her. “Im not comfortable with picking up calls because every second or third call is somebody I dont know, who has my number, who shouldnt,” she said.

“Even for the food delivery agents, if you want your food delivered and if you don’t want to go hungry that night, you have to give your phone number. And I got so many calls, after my food was delivered, I got follow-up calls like ‘are you really Samantha? Is this Samantha’s number?’ Then the next day seven others call because he would have shared the number with his friends, because its fun to talk about. So it spreads and I can’t even count the number of times I had to change my phone number because of this. But, then again what option do you have?” the Telugu and Tamil star shared in a video interview.

Samantha reveals that she recently activated her Doosra number, which is a 10-digit, SIM-free mobile number, which users can share at any place where they are compelled to share their personal mobile number including on digital platforms. All incoming calls to the Doosra number are either automatically blocked or sent to voicemail or let through depending on the User’s settings and preferences on Doosra app. All the incoming messages are silently placed in the Messages folder on the app and can be reviewed at leisure.

“This is something that is need of the hour. With our numbers going everywhere, our personal information goes everywhere, it thankfully now one feels that you are protected and whoever you want to give your number to i.e. your friends and your family, are the only ones to have access to you.” She ties it to feeling safer and secure as a woman. “Suddenly, you feel a lot more protected as a woman.”

The actress also crosses 12 million followers on Instagram this week. This is what she has to say about online trolling: “There are gods and then there are demons. It’s a part and parcel of social media. They need somebody to love and they need someone to hate.”

Doosra is a virtual mobile number that can be shared anywhere and with anyone, instead of a personal mobile number to avoid spam, unknown callers, circulation, and theft of personal information.

Hindi Website