Shriya Saran has opened up about an unusual aspect of her role in the Drishyam franchise, admitting that playing the mother of Ishita Dutta, who is eight years younger than her, initially seemed unrealistic. However, the actress said the strength of the story and the explanation provided in the films helped make the relationship work on screen.
Shriya reprises her role as Nandini Salgaonkar in Drishyam: The Conclusion, directed by Abhishek Pathak and starring Ajay Devgn in the lead. Ishita Dutta plays Anju Salgaonkar, Nandini’s daughter in the crime thriller franchise.
In a recent interview, Shriya discussed the age difference between the two actresses, the way the films addressed it, and how her relationship with Ishita has evolved over the years.
Shriya Saran on Playing Ishita Dutta’s Mother in Drishyam
Speaking to News18, Shriya acknowledged that the age difference between her and Ishita initially made her question the casting choice.
“Yeah, I mean, it doesn’t make sense. I did think about it. I was like, how does it make any connect? I had to be a child to give birth to another child (laughs). But the story is so impactful and strong that you don’t think about all these things,” the actress said.
Shriya also spoke about the tendency of the film industry to typecast women actors. However, she praised the Drishyam makers for giving the characters a convincing backstory that addresses the apparent age gap.
According to the actress, Anju’s adoption is an important part of the storyline and helps explain the mother-daughter relationship between the characters.
Beyond their on-screen roles, Shriya and Ishita have also shared different stages of life while working together on the franchise.
“When we began working on Drishyam, we were both literally children! By the time we shot for Drishyam 2, she had just gotten married and I remember us speaking a lot about life. By the third film, we were discussing children,” Shriya recalled.
The actress further revealed that their conversations now often revolve around their children. Ishita’s son, Vayu, is almost the same age as Shriya’s daughter, Radha, giving the co-stars another personal connection. Shriya also praised Ishita, describing her as a wonderful mother.
Drishyam: The Conclusion Box Office Collection
Meanwhile, Drishyam: The Conclusion, featuring Ajay Devgn in the lead, has reportedly recorded a strong theatrical run. According to the box-office figures provided in the original report, the film opened with ₹62 crore on October 2.
The reported collections for its first ten days were:
- Day 1: ₹62 crore
- Day 2: ₹53.5 crore
- Day 3: ₹61 crore
- Day 4: ₹21 crore
- Day 5: ₹19.5 crore
- Day 6: ₹15.5 crore
- Day 7: ₹13 crore
- Day 8: ₹14.5 crore
- Day 9: ₹26.5 crore
- Day 10: ₹22.5 crore
The figures cited in the original report put the film’s ten-day domestic total above ₹300 crore, with its worldwide collection reportedly approaching ₹500 crore.
With Shriya Saran and Ishita Dutta continuing their familiar on-screen relationship, the film also brings renewed attention to the performances and character dynamics that have been central to the Drishyam franchise.
