Trisha has headlined some of the most successful and critically acclaimed films in South Indian history. Her ability to balance commercial potboilers with performance-oriented roles has defined her longevity.

: Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, this romantic masterpiece featured her as "Jessie". The character became a cultural phenomenon, redefining modern romance in Tamil cinema.

| Year | Film | Language | Role | Notes | |------|------|----------|------|-------| | 2002 | Mounam Pesiyadhe | Tamil | Sandhya | Debut film | | 2003 | Manasellam | Tamil | Malar | | | 2003 | Saamy | Tamil | Bhuvana | Major commercial hit | | 2003 | Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu | Telugu | Nandini | Telugu debut | | 2004 | Ghilli | Tamil | Dhanalakshmi | Blockbuster; iconic role opposite Vijay | | 2004 | Varsham | Telugu | Shailaja | Breakthrough in Telugu; Filmfare winner |

Trisha first appeared in an uncredited supporting role in the Tamil romance Jodi (1999). However, her true launchpad arrived when director Ameer cast her as the lead in Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002) alongside Suriya.