Los Angeles, Dec 28 (.) Indian actor Sheena Chohan, who made her Hindi-language feature debut earlier this year with the biopic ‘Sant Tukaram,’ has been cast as the lead in the Tamil-language drama ‘Arjunanin Allirani.’
According to Variety, the film centers on folk artists and caste discrimination, and marks Chohan’s entry into Tamil cinema after working in Malayalam, Hindi, and international productions.
Written by acclaimed Tamil author B. Jeyamohan and directed by Vino Vikraman Pillai (Kafir), the film features music by legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja and is produced by Irfan Khan for EBG Films.
Arjunanin Allirani follows two impoverished artists, a folk dance performer and a Dalit singer, whose relationship forms the emotional core of the story. Chohan plays Rani, a character whose arc spans from her teenage years to middle age across four distinct life phases.
The role requires extensive martial arts training, including Chilambattam, a traditional Tamil stick-fighting technique.
“Rani is a young woman who spends her formative years immersed in devotion, singing hymns to God in temples,” Pillai told Variety.
“Her life unfolds across four phases, tracing her journey from youth to middle age. To authentically portray this evolution, the actress must master martial arts and adapt her appearance and presence to significant physical and emotional transformations.”
Pillai added that casting Chohan was “entirely serendipitous.” “From our first conversation, I was struck by her passion and dedication. Rani is a powerful, resilient woman, and the role demands extensive martial arts sequences. Sheena is exceptionally well-suited given her training and experience.”
For Chohan, the role aligns with her commitment to socially grounded stories. “I did so much theatre and acting training that it’s a waste to do a flat character,” she said.
“Good acting brings depth to seemingly simple roles. No real person is shallow or morally simple, so I don’t like my characters to be either.”
A United for Human Rights South Asia Ambassador, Chohan said her advocacy informs her project choices. “I turn down many films with derogatory roles. The industry is changing, and new stories now depict women as equal citizens, not just decorative figures,” she explained.
Chohan’s recent work includes Sant Tukaram, in which she portrayed Avali Jijabai, and J.D. Chakravarthy’s pan-India thriller Jatasya Maranam Dhruvam, where she plays a police officer, immersing herself in the role through extensive research.
Her upcoming slate also includes the VFX-heavy streaming series Bhaayava, in which she portrays Lilith. The platform is yet to be confirmed as the production team completes visual effects.
“I went from playing a saint’s wife to a devil, Lilith, Adam’s first wife, banished for refusing domination. The character was rich and complex, and I had to fully immerse myself,” Chohan said.
Chohan’s international credits include Ant Story (2013), which screened at the Shanghai and Dubai International Film Festivals, and appearances alongside Madhuri Dixit in Netflix’s The Fame Game (2022) and Kajol in The Trial (2023).
She began her career opposite Mammootty in the Malayalam film The Train (2011), directed by Jayaraj.
Reflecting on her diverse work, Chohan noted how different directors shaped her acting approach. “For Jayaraj I was expressive, while for Suparn Varma I had to keep it subtle. Learning from legends taught me command, professionalism, and how to inhabit a character fully.”
On choosing projects, Chohan emphasised character and story over reach. “A nuanced character in a well-told, original, rooted story that reaches the world, that’s the dream. That’s what I want to live.”
. MI ARN