Actor makes Tamil cinema debut with caste-themed folk narrative and follows it up with a bold mythological role
Tamil Debut With a Socially Rooted Story
Indian actor Sheena Chohan is set to make her Tamil cinema debut as the female lead in Arjunanin Allirani, a Tamil-language folk drama that explores caste discrimination and artistic resistance. The film is written by acclaimed author B. Jeyamohan and directed by Vino Vikraman Pillai. It is produced by Irfan Khan under the EBG Films banner, with music composed by legendary musician Ilaiyaraaja.
Story Focused on Folk Artists and Inequality
Arjunanin Allirani follows the lives of two impoverished performers—a folk dancer and a Dalit singer—whose emotional bond forms the heart of the narrative. Set against a rural backdrop, the film traces loss, resilience, and the pursuit of justice through art. The story places folk traditions at the center while addressing systemic discrimination, positioning the film as both culturally rooted and politically relevant.
A Physically Demanding Role
Chohan plays Rani, a character whose life unfolds across four phases, from her teenage years to middle age. The role requires intense physical preparation, including training in Chilambattam, the traditional Tamil martial art. Director Pillai has described the character as emotionally layered and physically formidable, noting that the role demands visible transformation across different periods of the character’s life.
Alignment With Chohan’s Career Choices
For Chohan, the project reflects her long-standing commitment to socially meaningful cinema. A United for Human Rights South Asia Ambassador, she has often spoken about rejecting roles that depict women in degrading or one-dimensional ways. She believes the Indian film industry is gradually evolving, with more filmmakers writing women as complex, thinking individuals rather than decorative characters.
From Sant Tukaram to Tamil Cinema
The Tamil debut follows Chohan’s Hindi-language feature debut in Sant Tukaram, directed by Aditya Om, where she portrayed Avali Jijabai. The performance was noted for its quiet strength and emotional restraint. Chohan credits her acting training at The Acting Center in Los Angeles, during her work on the Hollywood film Nomad, for shaping her approach to character research and scene work.
Upcoming VFX Series Bhaayava
Chohan’s upcoming slate also includes the VFX-heavy streaming series Bhaayava, in which she plays Lilith, a mythological figure often described as Adam’s first wife. The platform for the series is yet to be announced as post-production continues. She has also completed filming for J.D. Chakravarthy’s pan-India thriller Jatasya Maranam Dhruvam, where she plays a police officer.
A Career Built Across Languages
Chohan began her career in Malayalam cinema opposite Mammootty in The Train (2011). Since then, she has worked across Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and international projects, steadily building a reputation for character-driven roles. With Arjunanin Allirani and Bhaayava, Chohan continues to balance cultural depth with wider reach—staying focused on stories that leave a lasting impact.
