Shruti Haasan has opened up about how the 2012 Tamil film "3," starring opposite Dhanush, significantly impacted her career, calling it a defining moment. In a recent interview, the actress shared that she felt supported by Dhanush and the film's director, Aishwarya Rajinikanth, especially during a time when she felt uncertain about her career path.

"3," a romantic psychological thriller, marked Aishwarya Rajinikanth's directorial debut. The film revolves around the love story of Ram (Dhanush) and Janani (Shruti Haasan), from their school days to their married life, and the emotional challenges they face. The film gained considerable attention prior to its release due to the collaboration of Shruti and Aishwarya, both daughters of prominent Tamil actors, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, respectively. The song "Why This Kolaveri Di?" became a viral sensation, further boosting the film's popularity.

Shruti Haasan's career began with a cameo in her father's film, "Hey Ram" (2000). She later made her debut as a lead actress in the Bollywood action thriller "Luck" (2009). In 2011, she debuted in Telugu cinema with "Anaganaga O Dheerudu" and in Tamil with "7 Aum Arivu," winning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South for both films. However, after these initial roles, Haasan faced a period where she questioned her career trajectory.

"3" is often credited as a turning point in Shruti Haasan's career. Aishwarya Rajinikanth had initially envisioned Shruti for the role but scheduling conflicts led to Amala Paul being cast initially. However, Shruti was later brought back to play Janani. The film's emotional depth and the on-screen chemistry between Dhanush and Shruti sparked rumors of a real-life connection, which Shruti has denied, clarifying that Dhanush is an important friend who supported her when others didn't believe in her for the role.

Following "3," Shruti Haasan established herself as a leading actress in South Indian cinema. She starred in several successful Telugu films, including "Gabbar Singh" (2012), "Balupu" (2013), "Yevadu" and "Race Gurram" (both 2014), "Srimanthudu" (2015), "Premam" (2016), and "Krack" (2021). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in "Race Gurram". She has also appeared in commercially successful Tamil films like "Vedalam" (2015) and "Si3" (2017), and Hindi films like "Gabbar Is Back" and "Welcome Back" (both 2015).

In addition to her acting career, Shruti Haasan is also an established playback singer and has her own music band. She began her career as a music director with her father's production "Unnaipol Oruvan" (2009). She has received several awards and nominations for her work in film and music, and has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list.