After her feature film debut in 2001 with Ishtam, she received her first commercial success in 2002 by playing the role of Bhanu in the Telugu film Santhosham.
Subsequently, she appeared in several Telugu films with prominent actors, while also making in-roads in the Hindi film industry as well as the Tamil film industry.
In 2007, Shriya starred alongside Rajinikanth in Sivaji: The Boss, which became the highest grossing Tamil film of the time. She has since appeared in films such as Azhagiya Tamil Magan and Kanthaswamy in Tamil and appeared in high budget Hindi pictures such as Mission Istanbul, roles which have established her as one of the leading actresses in the South Indian film industry.
Shriya also played the lead role in an American-Indian crossover film, The Other End of the Line. Shriya has also featured as the brand ambassador for several stores across India appearing for prominent beauty and health products.
Furthermore her work as a philanthropist, has seen her being attached to noted charity organistaions whilst she has recently pledged to open a spa for the visually challenged.