Shruti Haasan was going through a tough patch in her career when 3 came her way. Before landing the role of Janani in Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s 2012 romantic tragedy, the actor had faced a string of flops
across industries — including Luck in Hindi and Anaganaga O Dheerudu in Telugu. But 3, starring Dhanush and directed by his then-wife Aishwarya, gave Shruti something she hadn’t felt in a long time: belief.
“There was a lot of faith (in me) from the team and a lot of support,” Shruti shared in a recent chat with Galatta Plus. “Acting opposite Dhanush definitely helped. He’s a really supportive co-star, especially at that time in my life. I had a lot of doubts, so he was very encouraging, he and Aishwarya (Rajinikanth). My role was so pivotal to the story, too. I always perform under pressure when I’m given responsibility. I realised that then, and the wall broke. After that, my personality also changed a lot.”
When 3 first hit theatres, it received mixed reviews and modest box office returns. But over time, the film found a devoted audience. The now-iconic Kolaveri Di song became a cultural moment — but for Shruti, the film meant much more than a viral hit.
In another interview with Prema last month, she reflected on the film’s long-term impact. “I wish 3 was a more commercial success. I feel like if that film were released now, it would’ve been a rage. Much bigger than just the Kolaveri song.”
As 3 gained its cult status, Shruti’s career took a turn for the better. And more than a decade later, she’s gearing up for a major release again — this time in Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The film, which features an all-star cast including Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, Upendra, Nagarjuna, and Soubin Shahir, hits theatres on 14 August.
Dhanush, meanwhile, is juggling multiple roles in his upcoming film Idly Kadai, where he writes, directs, produces, and stars alongside Nithya Menen. He also reunites with Raanjhanaa director Aanand L Rai for Tere Ishk Mein, co-starring Kriti Sanon.
