Shruti Haasan is currently enjoying the massive success of her latest release Coolie starring Rajinikanth, which has crossed Rs 200 crore at the domestic box office. While she has found her footing in the Tamil and Telugu industries, her Hindi film career was relatively short-lived. In a recent interview, Shruti opened up about her observations of the southern industries and how Bollywood feels very different in terms of its work culture and mindset.‘Saraswati ka haath sar se uth jayega’Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Shruti shared that humility plays a huge role in the South. She noted that senior actors in Tamil and Telugu industries strongly believe that if they don’t remain grounded, “Saraswati ka haath sar se uth jayega” (Goddess Saraswati will withdraw her blessings). Unlike Bollywood, she felt that southern industries instilled a strong sense of discipline, reverence, and awareness.
She explained, “I noticed those small things, like having coconut in the morning or having a photo of a deity sitting in the corner. There were rules regarding what was and wasn’t allowed on set, and the actor and their staff were always very aware of how they presented themselves. I found there to be a higher level of awareness and consciousness in the South, compared to when I worked in the Hindi film industry.”Humility and music shaped her perspectiveThe actress credited her early grounding in music for teaching her humility. She added that in South India, wealth or fame often doesn’t translate into flashy displays. “Many people who have a lot of money won’t dress up very flashy. They will still have that old Ambassador car for many years. It’s just the psychology of the place, and it’s very important to realise that we are merely vessels for the art,” Shruti shared.She further explained that learning music at a young age shaped her thinking. “Working with people in close quarters for hours on end teaches you to just play your bits, to not try to surpass anyone else, and to be humble,” she said.
‘I really don’t know why it didn’t work’ in Hindi filmsReflecting on her short stint in Bollywood, Shruti admitted she is still unsure about what went wrong. “I really don’t know why it didn’t work. I went to the places where, whatever I wanted from a film, I got. But somehow the focus shifted, because I have always had enquiries from Hindi, and sometimes I didn’t have the dates, or in some cases I made wrong decisions in films, which everybody suffers the price of,” she said.At the same time, Shruti acknowledged that the Hindi industry has changed significantly with the rise of OTT. She added that she is now being offered projects that align with her interests and confirmed she plans to take up more Hindi work in the future.Though brief, Shruti Haasan’s Bollywood journey saw her feature in notable films. She made her Hindi debut with Luck (2009) alongside Imran Khan and Sanjay Dutt, later starred in Ramaiya Vastavaiya (2013), and was last seen in Behen Hogi Teri (2017) opposite Rajkummar Rao.
