Sheena Chohan, the versatile actress and South Asian Human Rights Ambassador, has been honored with the prestigious Rising Star Award by Times Applaud.
Starting her cinematic journey in the South alongside Mammootty, Sheena’s career soared with critically acclaimed performances, including her role in Ant Story, directed by Mostofa Farooki, for which she was nominated Best Actress at the Shanghai and Dubai Film Festivals, and the film was bought by Netflix. She followed this with roles in the OTT space alongside Madhuri Dixit in Netflix’s The Fame Game and alongside Kajol in The Trial. Sheena’s work in the popular comedy series Ex-Mates earned her various Best Actress Awards, and her film Amar Prem was launched at Cannes in the official India tent, 2024. Her collaborations with three National Award-winning directors, including seven time National Award Winner, Jayaraj, highlight her ability to deliver powerful, nuanced performances.
Now, with four major releases on the horizon, Sheena’s career is about to reach even greater heights with her Bollywood debut as the female lead opposite Subodh Bhave in Sant Tukaram, a Hindi feature film releasing in 2025. Additionally, she’s starring in Bhayaava, an international production where she takes on a never-seen-before avatar as a She-devil in a gripping thriller.
Further expanding her global reach, Sheena is poised to make her Hollywood debut in Nomad, a highly anticipated film. She is also set to make her Telugu debut as a lady cop in a project expected to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Speaking about her upcoming ventures, Sheena said, “These four projects aren’t just films to me—they’re journeys that allow me to dive deep into different worlds and characters, each with its own story to tell. I see every role as a chance to push my boundaries and bring something new and unexpected to the screen. It’s not just about showing my versatility as an actor, but about creating characters that resonate on a deep level with audiences.”
She added, “What excites me most is the sheer joy of storytelling, of breathing life into a character and being able to connect with people through these narratives to work with collaborative directors , bringing impactful stories aand their vision to life. It’s this passion that drives me to bring authenticity and depth to every role I take on, and to work with some of the industry’s most talented producers, directors, and co-actors.”
Beyond her screen success, Sheena is also the South Asia Ambassador for humanrights.com, spreading awareness of basic rights and equality to over 172 million people. She was honored with the Hero Award at the United Nations in New York and the Presidential Volunteer Award, signed by U.S. President Biden.
The award-winning photographs of Sheena receiving her Rising Star Award were taken by the talented Siddhesh Parab.
