A decade after U Turn, Shraddha Srinath reflects on reinvention and regional cinema

I didn’t enter this industry with a godfather or some grand launch plan. I wore whatever I had, did my own makeup, went for auditions, and then U Turn happened,” smiles Shraddha Srinath. The actor, who has worked across multiple industries since the Pawan Kumar directorial, says every moment of leaving behind her corporate career as a legal professional for cinema has been worth it. As U Turn completes a decade this month, Shraddha reflects on her journey, evolving choices, and the pressures of being an actor in today’s social media-driven industry.‘Pawan Kumar told me I didn’t sound like a middle-class Kannadiga girl’“When I auditioned for U Turn, I was extremely nervous. Pawan told me I didn’t sound anything like the average middle-class Kannadiga girl, so I genuinely thought I wouldn’t make the cut,” recalls Shraddha. “But a few days later, while we were shooting more scenes, he casually told his assistant director to keep them aside for the BTS footage. That’s when I realised I had probably got the film, even before he officially confirmed it,” she says. Shraddha fondly remembers the film’s premiere night. “The team had designed U Turn merchandise, and the T-shirts themselves became entry passes to the screening. Everything felt intimate and personal back then,” she points out. Even before the film released, offers had started coming her way. She says, “I think being associated with Pawan Kumar’s camp helped. And honestly, my friends still tell me my performance in U Turn remains my most authentic one. Maybe that’s true because there’s always a certain innocence and naïveté in your first film.”‘Moving to Tamil or Telugu cinema was never strategic’Soon after U Turn, Shraddha landed Vikram Vedha opposite R Madhavan, followed by films with Nani in Telugu cinema. “I think U Turn and my association with Pawan gave people confidence that I could act. The transition happened organically,” she says, adding, “But as a Kannada-speaking girl entering culturally different industries, I definitely had insecurities. I worried people would think, ‘She doesn’t belong here.’” Having grown up in army cantonments across North India, Shraddha says she initially had little understanding of Tamil culture, humour, or conversational rhythm.“When I went onto the sets of Vikram Vedha, I became a sponge. I kept listening to how people spoke and observed everything around me. I followed a similar process in Telugu too. Now, when I wrap a Telugu film and return to Chennai, it takes me time to switch languages mentally.” She also cherishes the audience response to Operation Alamelamma. “I’ve also worked in Hindi and Malayalam films, and with experience, adapting becomes easier.”‘I did pan-India films before it became a label’Long before ‘pan-India cinema’ became industry jargon, Shraddha says she had already witnessed regional films travelling across linguistic borders. “I remember U Turn had just one or two shows in cities like Chennai and Delhi, but audiences still waited to watch it. The film travelled purely through word of mouth,” she says. “That phase felt incredibly exciting because a Kannada film was suddenly being appreciated across India and at film festivals. Today, audiences are far more open to regional cinema and the hierarchy between industries has blurred. There’s much more exposure now, and naturally, a lot of attention is on South Indian cinema. OTT platforms have also opened up opportunities for everyone,” she says.‘Heroine’ is a very Indian concept’Shraddha’s social media bio famously reads: Actor, not heroine. Ask her why, and she explains, “The term ‘heroine’ feels very uniquely Indian. It comes with a very specific image in mainstream cinema — feminine, bubbly, shy, eventually rescued by the hero. But I came here to act.” She admits she briefly experimented with more conventional commercial roles. “I did try being the ‘heroine’ for a while. But when I delivered those dialogues, they felt emotionally dishonest to me. It felt contrived, so I stepped away from it,” she says. What interests her instead are emotionally grounded stories featuring relatable characters. “That’s why I loved doing something like Irugapatru. Real people and real emotional dynamics excite me more,” she adds.‘There is constant pressure on actors to remind people that they exist’For Shraddha, one of the biggest changes over the last decade has been the growing expectation for actors to constantly remain visible online. “Actors today aren’t simply actors anymore. They’re brands, social media personalities, and public figures,” she says. “If you want recall value, you need to stay active online. Sometimes it almost feels like visibility matters as much as the quality of your films.” She admits social media does not come naturally to her. “I’m not somebody who instinctively wants to constantly share my thoughts or personal life. But choosing not to participate fully can sometimes make you feel left behind,” she notes. A friend once advised her to approach social media differently. She explains, “He told me to treat it like a game — play by the rules and have fun with it. At some level, all of us are trying to find our niche and connect with people who genuinely relate to us.”‘I want to spice things up a little, keep reinventing myself’Having already done several romantic dramas, Shraddha says she is now looking for more challenging roles. “I want to spice things up a little,” she laughs. “I’d love to explore historical dramas, science fiction, emotionally intense roles, and physically demanding characters,” she says. She names films like Kantara and Ponniyin Selvan: I as the kind of cinematic worlds she would love to be part of. “I’d love to play a queen someday. Or maybe even an agent,” she says with a smile.Shraddha’s notable hit parade over the yearsJersey with NaniRichie with Nivin PaulyKaatru Veliyidai directed by Mani RatnamDaaku Maharaaj with Nandamuri BalakrishnaNerkonda Paarvai with Ajith KumarMechanic Rocky with Vishwak SenRustum with ShivarajkumarIrugapatru with Vikram PrabhuSaindhav with Venkatesh Daggubati and Arya