Shruti Haasan is popular for being outspoken, and in her latest interview, she opened up about the very different cultures she has experienced while working in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films.
For her, the difference isn’t just about language or budgets. It goes much deeper, into the psychology and belief systems of the people who make these movies.
Speaking to ‘The Hollywood Reporter’, Shruti explained that in the South, especially among the big stars, humility is taken very seriously. She said many actors strongly believe that if they lose their humbleness, Goddess Saraswati will take her blessings away.
Shruti Haasan admitted that this was new for her when she first entered the industry. At home, she didn’t grow up with a strong spiritual or religious influence because her father, Kamal Haasan, is not someone who follows such practices. But when she started working, she noticed the little rituals around her.
For example, coconuts being broken before starting the day, pictures of deities in corners of the sets, and clear rules about what was allowed and what wasn’t. She said she observed a deep sense of discipline and consciousness in South cinema, something she found less visible when she worked in Bollywood.
Describing the cultural psychology, Shruti noted how in the South even very wealthy people avoid showing off. “They may have made huge amounts of money but still travel in the same old Ambassador car. They don’t feel the need to prove their success with flashy things,” she explained.
For her, this modest approach reflects an important belief that actors are not bigger than the art itself. “We are just vessels. The true conduit is the story, the script, the music. Our job is to take that art and share it with the world. We are not the source of it,” she said.
