‘I Have a South Indian Heart’: Shriya Saran on Identity and Cinema

Actress Shriya Saran is in the news due to her upcoming movie "Drishyam 3." The actress was born in Uttarakhand, but she grew up in a Hindi-speaking family. The actress has worked in South Indian movies, even though she was unable to speak Tamil or Telugu. The actress has worked in Hindi movies in her 25-year career. Actress Shriya Saran has talked about how people refer to her as a South Indian actress.

Shriya Saran, speaking about the many changes in her life, said, "I was born in Haridwar. I lived there for 17 years. Then I moved to Delhi to learn Kathak. Then I started acting at the age of 17. It was a huge step for my family." My father is an engineer, my mother is a teacher.

Shriya Saran believes her early years taught her a lot. She said, "Because I was a small-town girl in Delhi, moving to the South and working in the South was a surprise. From there, when I went on set, learned new languages, all of that, I think it really prepared me for life. I feel truly blessed with the love the South has given me. I have a South Indian heart."

On being called a South Indian, the actress said, "One of the things I learned is that you are what you believe yourself to be. If you keep growing and learning and letting life teach you things, you start living it better."

Shriya Saran made her debut in 2001 with the Telugu film "Ishtam." She went on to appear in several Tamil and Telugu films, including "Chatrapati," "Shivaji," "Pokkiri Raja," and "Manam." Additionally, she has maintained a consistent presence in Hindi cinema, particularly in the "Drishyam" franchise. Shriya Saran is next seen in the series "Space Jane: Chandrayaan," scheduled for release on January 23, 2026. She will also return to the big screen in "Drishyam 3" later this year.