Shruti Haasan reflects on film 3's box office failure: "If 3 had been released today..."

Shruti Haasan talked candidly about the disappointment of the movie's lack of box office success in spite of its emotional depth in a recent interview with Prema.

Despite not being a box office success at the time, Aishwarya Rajinikanth's 2012 directorial debut, starring Dhanush and Shruti Haasan, has developed a cult following over the years, partly due to its poignant depiction of romance and mental health, and, of course, the viral song "Why This Kolaveri Di."

Shruti Haasan talked candidly about the disappointment of the movie's lack of box office success in spite of its emotional depth in a recent interview with Prema.

"More terrible than heartbreak"

"The regret I have is when some films I know are very special," Shruti said candidly when discussing her career regrets. And I am aware that I contributed something of myself. It's worse than heartbreak when they don't work. She clarified that she doesn't generally live with regrets, but she does wish that the movie 3 had done better financially when it was first released.

She went on to say, "I wish 3 was a bigger commercial success." "We didn't have OTT platforms back then, but now everyone talks about pan-Indian films. It had to be released into the world after being dubbed into Hindi. I honestly believe that 3 would be a huge hit if it were released today—so much more than just the Kolaveri Di phenomenon.

Shruti also named D-Day as another film she wishes had fared better, while acknowledging the irony that some of her “for-the-sake-of-it” projects ended up becoming surprise hits.

The story of Ram (Dhanush) and Janani (Shruti Haasan), a young couple who get married against her parents' wishes, is told in A Film Ahead of Its Time 3. As their lives progress, Ram starts exhibiting symptoms of bipolar disorder, which eventually results in tragedy, guilt, and emotional breakdowns. At a time when mental illness was hardly ever depicted on screen, the movie received praise for addressing the subject in a mainstream Tamil production.

3's music, especially the now-iconic song Why This Kolaveri Di, stood out despite the initial mixed reviews. The song, which was written and sung by Dhanush and composed by Anirudh Ravichander, went viral in 2011. It received millions of views and even caught the attention of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the prime minister at the time, who invited Dhanush to Delhi as a guest of honour.

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Gazing Ahead

The two main actors are currently looking into new projects. Dhanush is currently preparing for Tere Ishk Mein and his upcoming film, Idli Kadai. Shruti Haasan will next be seen with Rajinikanth in Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie and Train.

Shruti's opinion that 3 was just ahead of its time is more relevant than ever as discussions about mental health and non-linear romantic narratives continue to gain traction in Indian cinema.