Shruti Haasan reveals she secretly discovered religion as a child despite atheist upbringing by Kamal Haasan and Sarika

Shruti Haasan recently opened up about her spiritual journey, sharing how her belief in God became a cornerstone of her strength, despite growing up in a household where religion wasn’t part of daily life. The actor-musician, daughter of legendary stars Kamal Haasan and Sarika, candidly spoke about finding faith on her own terms.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Shruti reflected on the foundation of her resilience, attributing it to her unwavering belief in God. “My faith in God is what has kept me strong,” she revealed. Shruti explained that while spirituality wasn’t discouraged, it wasn’t something practiced or encouraged at home. “Our house was more of an atheist space. My mom is spiritual, but my dad never believed in God. I grew up without the concept of faith being a significant part of life, but I eventually found it on my own.”

The contrast between her upbringing and her personal beliefs has been striking. Kamal Haasan’s well-known atheist stance and Sarika’s spiritual leanings meant that Shruti’s path to religion unfolded independently. “I strongly believe in the power of God. That belief has guided me through many phases and challenges in my life,” Shruti said, highlighting how deeply personal this connection became.

When asked how she initially stumbled upon faith, Shruti shared a lighthearted yet poignant anecdote. “I found God chori chori (in secret),” she laughed. As a child, Shruti would often ride her bicycle near her home, but there was one area she was discouraged from exploring – a lane near the main gate that led to places of worship. “Every morning, I’d hear the bells ringing from both the temple and the church. I felt drawn to them. The temple was too far, but the church was closer, so I started sneaking in once a week. I kept it hidden from my family for almost six months,” she admitted.

Shruti described how the very act of being told not to engage with religion piqued her curiosity further. “When you tell a child not to do something, that’s exactly what they want to do more. For me, that ‘forbidden’ thing was religion,” she said with a smile.

Her first visit to a temple, however, holds a special place in her heart. It wasn’t something she did alone. “My grandfather was the one who took me to a temple in Chennai for the first time. He explicitly told me not to let my father know,” Shruti recalled fondly. That visit became even more meaningful after her grandfather’s passing. “I always felt a unique bond with him, and after he passed, the temple became a place where I felt spiritually connected to him.”