From 'Agni' to 'Preethi': Shruti Haasan unfolds her first love, fiery alternate name, calls working with Rajinikanth a full circle moment

Actress Shruti Haasan, who plays Sathyaraj's daughter Preethi in the upcoming film 'Coolie', directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring superstar Rajinikanth, recently opened up about her experience in a YouTube interview with Galata. With the film release scheduled worldwide on 14 August, Shruti Haasan expressed her excitement about becoming a part of a prominent Rajinikanth-starrer for the first time in her career. As the daughter of legendary actor Kamal Haasan, she spoke with pride and enthusiasm about sharing screen space with another iconic star of Tamil cinema.

Reveals Kamal Haasan once wanted to name her ‘Agni’

Shruti Haasan recalled how emotional and encouraging it was when Rajinikanth patted her back during the shoot, uplifting her spirits. Reflecting on her own name, she shared a personal anecdote, which his father once wanted to name "Agni", but her mother felt that it looked like a weapon's name from a film, so he left the idea. Talking about Rajinikanth, she described him as a "master craftsman" and praised him for his professionalism. Discussing director Lokesh Kanagaraj, Shruti Haasan praised her quiet performance on the set, unlike the intensity of the films she made. She said that Lokesh gives place and freedom to the actors, allowing them to bring their best on screen.

Admits acting was never the dream

Addressing online negativity, Shruti admitted that she was fortunate to grow up in a time when social media wasn't pervasive, so she didn’t hear every harsh comment as a child. Today, she filters what she reads and tries not to let it affect her deeply. Talking about her path to acting, she revealed she was never passionate about it as a child and became an actress more by chance than choice. Her first love has always been music, which she calls her emotional outlet. She revealed that during her debut film, her only goal was to buy a new music console, not to pursue stardom.

Proud of father’s Rajya Sabha role

Ending on a lighter note, Shruti said she’s a spiritual person and jokes that if her father (Kamal Haasan) says something serious, she prefers to "talk to God" about it. Commenting on Kamal Haasan’s recent Rajya Sabha nomination, she expressed pride in his decision. Working with Rajinikanth in "Coolie" felt like life coming full circle, Shruti said, as she had known his family since childhood. Following her big role in Salaar with Prabhas, Coolie is expected to mark another milestone in her career.