Shriya Saran Happy to Be Branded a South Diva

Actress Shriya Saran has shared her thoughts on being tagged as a “South actress” and said she feels deeply connected to the region that embraced her career.

“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 move at that time,” Shriya said. “I started acting when I was 17, and it 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!?’”

Reflecting on her early years, she said moving from a small town to Delhi was a cultural shock. “From there to LSR and then to film sets, learning new languages and adapting to new environments — all of that really prepared me for life,” she added.

Shriya said the love she has received from the southern film industries has been overwhelming. “The kind of love the South has given me makes me feel truly blessed. My heart is South Indian,” she said.

Speaking about labels and being boxed into categories, the actress said perspective plays a key role. “One thing I’ve learned is that you are what you believe yourself to be. If you keep growing, learning, and letting life teach you, you start living better. But if you feel life is attacking you because people are boxing you into an image, then it becomes a battle,” she explained.

She added that such labels can also be embraced positively. “You can use it as a flavour — this is what people think of me, this is my flavour. People start boxing you in only when they notice you. Then you break that and become something else.”

Shriya Saran earlier ruled the roost in Tollywood and worked with top stars such as Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Balakrishna, Pawan Kalyan, and Tarun, carving a strong niche for herself in the industry.