Mumbai: Actress Shriya Saran has shared her thoughts on being called a “South actress” and said that she feels deeply connected to the region that embraced her career.
Shriya said, “I was born in Haridwar and lived there for 17 years. Then I moved to Delhi to learn Kathak from Shovana Narayan ji. That was a huge step at the time.” “I started acting at the age of 17, and that was a big step for my family because my father is an engineer and my mother is a teacher at DPS. It was like, ‘What!?'” Recalling her early years, she said that moving from a small town to Delhi was a cultural shock. She further added, “From there to LSR and then to film sets, learning new languages and adapting to new environments – all of this really prepared me for life.”
Shriya said that the love she has received from the South film industry is immense. She said, “I truly feel blessed with the kind of love the South has given me. My heart is South Indian.” Talking about being labeled and categorized, the actress said that perspective plays a crucial role. She explained, “One thing I’ve learned is that you are what you believe yourself to be. If you keep growing, keep learning, and let life teach you, you start living better. But if you feel that life is attacking you because people are putting you in a box, then it becomes a struggle.”
She further added that such labels can also be embraced in a positive way. “You can use it as a flavor – this is how people perceive me, this is my flavor. People only start categorizing you when they notice you. Then you break that and become something else.” Shriya Saran first reigned in Tollywood, working with top stars like Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Balakrishna, Pawan Kalyan, and Tarun, and established a strong foothold in the industry.
