13 October,2026 06:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Aakruti Bagla
Shriya Saran (Pic/Instagram)
Drishyam 3 shows no signs of stopping at the box office, as the film has finally entered the Rs 500 crore club globally. Talking about the phenomenal response, Shriya Saran attributed the film's success to Abhishek Pathak's direction and crisp writing. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, she talks about comparisons with the Malayalam version, Jaideep Ahlawat, and career lows.
Reacting to the overwhelming response, the actress said, "I'm very happy and grateful that people are enjoying this film so much because the script is very entertaining and has been written really well. Abhishek has also done a great job directing it."
When asked whether motherhood in real life has impacted her emotions, she said, "Every emotion and every experience changes you, and along the way, you become a better person. It is really important that we live our lives happily. Even the smallest pain we experience makes us a better person."
After its first-day, first-show (FDFS) screenings, the Hindi version of Drishyam 3 received praise, with fans comparing it to the Malayalam version, which received a mixed response. Even Mohanlal gave a shoutout to Ajay Devgn's film. Reacting to the comparisons, Shriya Saran said, "I don't think there should be any comparison. This film is different, and it cannot be compared to the Malayalam version because the story has been written completely differently."
Drishyam 3 made headlines after a major casting change, with Akshaye Khanna reportedly exiting the film midway following a dispute with the makers over remuneration and his look. Jaideep Ahlawat stepped in to replace him and has received praise for his performance. Talking about the casting change and the response to Jaideep's role, Shriya said, "I think this question Abhishek will be able to answer as he is the one who had to deal with it and I think he has dealt with it very beautifully and people have answered, they love the whole part of Jaideep."
As Rajinikanth gears up for Jailer 2, Shriya Saran recalled working with the superstar and said, "He is a fabulous actor. I learnt a lot from working with him. Despite his immense success, he is very simple and never makes anyone feel that he is such a big superstar. He is a wonderful person and works very hard."
Reflecting on the criticism she has faced in her career, especially since she started young without any backing, Shriya Saran said, "I mean, you feel like you start questioning your being an actor. Nobody likes to be criticised beyond a point. You also have to learn something from it. You try to become a better actor or a better person. And yeah, that's about it. You feel really bad, you feel dejected, you feel low, you feel dejected."
Shriya Saran believes that having more women behind the camera is just as important as their representation on screen. She said, "I think more than that, there are more women behind the camera. So there have to be more women behind the camera than in front of the camera. You can have a female-centric film, but if it's not made by women or doesn't have enough women involved, it's not really a female-centric film."
