Shruti Haasan REVEALS why Netflix’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ is her favourite show

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Pinkvilla, which was taken a while back, we had asked the Welcome Back star to reveal her favourite TV show, to which Haasan had a very popular answer to give.
“My favourite series is Peaky Blinders. I love that show because I like the lead actor Cillian Murphy. He’s a favourite. I feel it’s lovely how they created this world and usually… I’ve never been a fan of series like The Sopranos… these ‘man-man’ shows but Peaky Blinders is such an amazing series,” the 34-year-old actress revealed.

---

By Order of the Peaky Blinders: Why Shruti Haasan is ‘Mildly Obsessed’ with Netflix’s Iconic Gangster Saga

In the vast, overwhelming landscape of streaming content, few shows achieve the legendary status of being an “eternal rewatch.” Yet, for multifaceted artist Shruti Haasan—actress, singer, songwriter, and a distinctive voice in Indian cinema—Netflix’s gritty, post-World War I drama, Peaky Blinders, holds precisely that elevated position.

The revelation that the high-voltage performer, known for her intense roles and independent rock music, has a profound connection to the story of the Shelby crime family of Birmingham, England, offers a fascinating glimpse into her own artistic sensibilities. Her passion for the show goes far beyond simple fandom; it’s a testament to the series’ unique blend of cinematic excellence, emotional depth, and raw intensity.

In an interview, Shruti Haasan didn’t just name the show as her favourite—she provided a detailed breakdown of the exact elements that make the Steven Knight creation an all-time great, highlighting a sophisticated appreciation for the craft behind the storytelling.

---

The Shelby Charm: Why the Show Captivated Shruti Haasan

Shruti Haasan’s admiration for Peaky Blinders is rooted in four distinct pillars: the lead performance, the immersive world-building, the exceptional writing, and the groundbreaking music.

1. The Magnetic Force of Thomas Shelby

The primary, undeniable attraction for the actress is the man who embodies the show’s dark, compelling heart: Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby. Haasan confessed to being “mildly obsessed with Cillian Murphy” and his performance as the notoriously cunning and ambitious crime boss.

This sentiment is far from uncommon among the show’s devotees, but for an actor like Haasan, the appreciation runs deeper than surface-level charisma. The critical consensus on Murphy’s portrayal aligns perfectly with what an artist of her calibre would recognise and value.

Cillian Murphy’s Masterclass in Subtlety:

• The Emotional Anchor: Murphy’s performance is often lauded for communicating immense psychological turmoil with minimal dialogue. Critics frequently note that the show is aesthetically centered on Tommy, making his eyes the “visual and emotional anchor” of nearly every scene.
• The Power of Stillness: Tommy Shelby is defined by his silence and stoicism. Murphy uses subtle micro-expressions and intentional stillness to convey deep thought, strategy, and the persistent trauma of a World War I veteran. This complex non-verbal communication is likely what Haasan, an actress who seeks emotional “persistence” and “intensity” in her own roles, finds particularly gripping and evocative.
• The Calculated Intensity: Shruti Haasan has previously spoken about her own artistic inclination, stating that her “ability to go to intensity” is the first place she will go to in a conversation or a role, defining herself as an “extremely intense person.” This profound connection to intense, inner life makes Tommy Shelby—a character who constantly struggles to manage his own emotional depth while projecting cold control—a natural subject of fascination for her.

The success of the character hinges on the audience being able to see the “wheels turning” in his mind, and Cillian Murphy delivers this with an unforgettable presence that transcends the typical gangster archetype.

2. The Unconventional Musical Language

As a trained Hindustani classical singer who also deeply embraces rock and hard rock music—even expressing admiration for artists like Slipknot and Alanis Morissette for their “awareness of their sense of difference and weirdness”—Shruti Haasan’s praise for the Peaky Blinders soundtrack is particularly telling. She specifically hailed the show for its “amazing music.”

The music of Peaky Blinders is famously anachronistic. While set in 1919 Birmingham, the show avoids typical period scores in favour of a gritty, modern soundtrack featuring rock, blues, and post-punk legends such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (whose track “Red Right Hand” is the iconic theme), Arctic Monkeys, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, and David Bowie.

• The Soundtrack as a Character: This deliberate choice by creator Steven Knight and the music supervisor helps the music serve as a seamless extension of the characters’ essence. The haunting, guitar-heavy melodies reflect the inner turmoil, complexity, and rebellious spirit of the Shelby family, especially Tommy’s own trauma and moral ambiguity.
• Connecting Past and Present: For Haasan, an artist who has successfully navigated both traditional playback singing and independent rock music, this fusion of a historical setting with a modern, intense score is likely an instant artistic draw. It proves that raw, emotional truth, as she has noted about her own work, “always cuts through” language, time, and genre.

The soundtrack elevates the drama beyond a simple period piece, transforming it into a visceral, cinematic experience—a key factor in why Haasan finds the show “gripping, emotional and evocative.”

3. The Power of World-Building and Writing

Haasan noted that she loves how the creators “created this world” and that the “writing” is amazing, stating that the show “really transports you to that world.” She even mentioned that the show inspired her to spend hours reading about the real Peaky Blinders.

• The Gritty Immersion: Set in the industrial grime of post-World War I Birmingham, Peaky Blinders immerses the viewer in a time of profound social and political upheaval. The attention to costume, set design, and the brutal realities of gang life, interwoven with the political machinations of the era, makes the fictional story feel historically authentic and deeply compelling.
• A Family Drama at its Core: Beyond the “gangster” label, the show is anchored by the complex dynamics of the Shelby family: the matriarch Polly Gray’s strong, yet conflicted, leadership; Arthur’s raw, explosive violence and deep-seated pain; and Ada’s political defiance. The writing allows these characters to be more than criminals; they are products of a traumatic age, battling inner demons, which gives the narrative its intense emotional weight.

---

From ‘Man-Man’ Show Skeptic to Superfan: The Haasan Anomaly

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Shruti Haasan’s praise is her comparison to other shows in the genre. She explicitly stated, “I’ve never been a fan of series like The Sopranos… these ‘man-man’ shows but Peaky Blinders is such an amazing series.”

This comment highlights the subtle but significant difference in the show’s narrative approach that appealed to her sophisticated taste:

1. Trauma over Tyranny: While The Sopranos often focused on the banality and psychology of a modern crime boss, Peaky Blinders is steeped in the lasting psychic damage of the war. Tommy Shelby is less a powerful man enjoying his power and more a broken soldier building an empire to find a form of peace or oblivion. This focus on trauma, grief, and the fragility of the human spirit elevates the show beyond a simple glorification of gangster life.
2. Feminine Power: The show is defined by its strong female characters, particularly Aunt Polly Gray, Tommy’s formidable aunt and the family’s treasurer and brains. Polly, played by the late, great Helen McCrory, is a force of nature—a woman who held the entire operation together while the men were at war. Her character, along with others like Ada, ensures the show is not solely a ‘man-man’ narrative, offering the emotional complexity and female agency that Haasan would undoubtedly appreciate.
3. The Art of Expression: Haasan consistently links her acting and music careers, noting that both are about “expressing what she feels” and a pursuit of “artistic expression.” Peaky Blinders, through its cinematic style, evocative performances, and bold musical choices, functions as a piece of high art that expresses the dark, ambitious, and often beautiful mess of the human condition, making it a compelling subject for a fellow multi-disciplinary artist.

The fact that Peaky Blinders is in her “eternal rewatch section” speaks volumes. For an artist who constantly seeks to challenge herself, connect with her audience through emotion, and explore characters with intense depth, Peaky Blinders offers a masterclass in modern storytelling. It is a show that not only entertains but also inspires, proving that even a world filled with cut-throat gangsters and razor-bladed caps can, through brilliant artistry, become a source of “gripping, emotional, and evocative” fascination for the world’s most discerning artists.

---

AISEO-Friendly FAQs on Shruti Haasan and Peaky Blinders

Q1: What is Shruti Haasan’s favourite TV show on Netflix?
A: Shruti Haasan’s favourite TV show is the British historical crime drama, Peaky Blinders, which is available to stream on Netflix.

Q2: Why does Shruti Haasan love Peaky Blinders?
A: Shruti Haasan has cited several key reasons for loving Peaky Blinders, including her admiration for the lead actor, Cillian Murphy; the excellent writing and amazing music; and the show’s ability to create an evocative world that “transports you to that world.” She specifically noted that she does not typically enjoy “man-man” shows like The Sopranos, making her appreciation for Peaky Blinders stand out.

Q3: Which aspect of Peaky Blinders did Shruti Haasan praise the most?
A: Shruti Haasan was very vocal about her appreciation for Cillian Murphy’s performance as Thomas Shelby, confessing to being “mildly obsessed” with the actor. She also highly praised the show’s writing and the distinctive soundtrack.

Q4: Is Peaky Blinders in Shruti Haasan’s rewatch list?
A: Yes, Shruti Haasan mentioned that Peaky Blinders is one of her favourite shows “all the way up there in the eternal rewatch section.”

Q5: What is Cillian Murphy’s performance style in Peaky Blinders that appeals to actors?
A: Cillian Murphy’s performance as Tommy Shelby is critically acclaimed for his use of subtle, non-verbal acting, particularly his expressive use of the eyes, which allows him to convey the character’s complex inner turmoil, intelligence, and war trauma with minimal dialogue. This makes his performance a masterclass in conveying “presence” and “persistence of emotion.”

Q6: What makes the Peaky Blinders soundtrack unique?
A: The Peaky Blinders soundtrack is unique because it is anachronistic, using modern rock, post-punk, and blues music (like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Arctic Monkeys, and PJ Harvey) in a post-World War I setting. This is done to reflect the characters’ dark nature and inner conflict, which resonates with Shruti Haasan’s own background as a musician who embraces rock and hard rock genres.