Shriya Saran has opened up about one of the unusual aspects of her role in the Drishyam franchise. The actress, who plays Nandini Salgaonkar opposite Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar, portrayed the mother of Ishita Dutta’s Anju despite the two actresses having an age difference of only around eight years in real life. Shriya has admitted that the casting initially did not make much sense to her, bringing fresh attention to the age dynamics behind one of Hindi cinema’s most popular thriller families.
The revelation offers an interesting look at how actors approach characters whose fictional ages and relationships do not necessarily match their real-life circumstances. It also highlights the importance of convincing performances in making audiences accept relationships on screen.
Shriya Saran on the Drishyam Mother-Daughter Dynamic
In Drishyam, Shriya Saran plays Nandini, the wife of Vijay Salgaonkar and the mother of their two daughters, Anju and Anu. Ishita Dutta portrays the elder daughter, Anju, while Mrunal Jadhav plays the younger daughter, Anu.
The relationship between Nandini and Anju is central to the emotional foundation of the story. Although Vijay is the family’s principal strategist, Nandini’s fear, vulnerability and determination help establish the personal stakes behind the suspense.
However, the real-life age gap between Shriya and Ishita makes their on-screen relationship an interesting casting detail. Shriya was born in September 1982, while Ishita was born in August 1990. Their ages differ by approximately eight years, even though the characters are presented as a mother and her daughter.
According to the interview highlighted by News18, Shriya acknowledged that playing the mother of an actress so close to her age did not initially make sense to her. The situation reflects a familiar challenge in filmmaking: an actor’s real age does not always determine the age or family relationship of the character they portray.
Why the Casting Works Within the Story
A film’s casting decisions are not always based on the actors’ real-life ages. Directors also consider screen presence, performance, character requirements and the chemistry between performers.
In Drishyam, the audience is introduced to the Salgaonkar family through its everyday relationships before the story develops into a tense criminal investigation. Nandini is not simply Vijay’s wife; she is also a mother trying to protect her children as the family faces mounting pressure.
The story requires the audience to believe in the family’s emotional connections. Shriya’s portrayal of Nandini and Ishita’s performance as Anju help establish that dynamic, allowing viewers to focus on the unfolding mystery rather than the actors’ actual ages.
The age difference may appear unusual when the cast is examined outside the film, but fictional relationships often depend more on characterisation and performance than on the performers’ personal biographies.
How Drishyam Became a Major Thriller Franchise
The Hindi Drishyam franchise follows Vijay Salgaonkar, a cable operator and film enthusiast who goes to extraordinary lengths to protect his family. His knowledge of cinema, careful planning and ability to anticipate the police investigation form the foundation of the suspense.
The first Hindi film, released in 2015, was directed by Nishikant Kamat and featured Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu, Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav. Its central conflict revolves around the disappearance of a young man and the investigation that threatens to expose the Salgaonkar family.
The sequel, Drishyam 2, continued the story in 2022, bringing the family back into the spotlight as the consequences of the earlier events resurfaced. The franchise built its appeal through twists, carefully planted clues and the question of how far a parent would go to protect their children.
The third instalment, Drishyam 3: The Conclusion, released on October 2, 2026, bringing the Hindi franchise towards its concluding chapter. The return of the principal family characters has renewed interest in their journeys and the actors who have portrayed them over the years.
Shriya Saran’s Role as Nandini Salgaonkar
Nandini is an important part of the franchise because the story’s suspense is balanced by the emotional consequences of Vijay’s decisions. Her character experiences fear and uncertainty while attempting to protect her family, giving the thriller a personal dimension.
Across the films, Shriya has had to portray a mother caught in an increasingly complicated situation. Her role also demonstrates how actors can move beyond familiar screen images and take on characters defined by family responsibilities and emotional vulnerability.
The age-gap revelation adds another layer to the discussion around her casting. It reminds viewers that the relationships audiences see on screen are constructed through storytelling, acting and direction—not simply through the ages of the actors involved.
The Conversation Behind the Casting Choice
Shriya’s comments have drawn attention to a detail that viewers may not immediately notice while watching the films. The approximately eight-year age gap between her and Ishita Dutta creates an unusual real-life comparison with their fictional mother-daughter relationship.
Ultimately, the success of such casting depends on whether the characters feel believable within the story. In the Drishyam franchise, Nandini and Anju’s relationship forms part of the family unit that gives Vijay’s desperate attempts to protect his loved ones their emotional weight.
Shriya’s candid reflection provides a glimpse into the questions actors may have when they are offered a role. It also shows how a casting choice that initially appears unusual can become part of a character’s identity once the story takes shape.
For audiences revisiting the Drishyam films, the revelation offers an intriguing behind-the-scenes detail about the making of the Salgaonkar family.
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