అమెరికా ఆంక్షలను పట్టించుకోని భారత్

Actress Shriya Saran has opened up about being labelled a “South actress” and said she feels a deep emotional connection with the region that shaped her career. “I was born in Haridwar and lived there for 17 years. Later, I moved to Delhi to learn Kathak from Shovana Narayan ji. That was a huge move at that time,” Shriya shared. “I started acting when I was just 17, and it was a big step for my family. My father is an engineer and my mother is a teacher at DPS, so it was quite a shock for them.”

Reflecting on her formative years, Shriya said that moving from a small town to Delhi was a major cultural shift. “From there to studying at LSR and then stepping onto film sets, learning new languages and adapting to different environments — all of this truly prepared me for life,” she said.

Shriya expressed immense gratitude for the love she has received from the southern film industries. “The kind of affection the South has given me makes me feel truly blessed. My heart is South Indian,” she added.

Talking about being boxed into labels, the actress said perspective plays a crucial role. “One thing I’ve learned is that you are what you believe yourself to be. If you keep growing, learning, and allowing life to teach you, you begin to live better. But if you feel attacked because people are boxing you into an image, life becomes a constant battle,” she explained. She added that labels can also be embraced positively. “You can treat it as a flavour — this is how people see me. People start boxing you in only when they notice you, and then you break that image 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.