For pan-India actress Sheena Chohan, performance begins long before the cameras roll. Known for radical on-screen transformations, Chohan treats every new script as a rigorous investigative project—blending historical study, sociological observation, and physical training to inhabit complex psyches.
As she gears up for the theatrical release of the action-drama Jatasya Maranam Dhruvam, in which she portrays an authoritative police officer, Chohan breaks down the meticulous preparation behind her most distinct transformations.
The Blueprint: Research, Psychology, and Surrender
Q: When you receive a new script, what is your immediate first step?
Sheena Chohan: “I become obsessed with research. I want to understand who this person is before I decide how to play them. I examine their psychology, physicality, environment, language, relationships, and emotional truth. My job is not to arrive on set with an inflexible idea of what the character should be. I want to be prepared enough to arrive as a blank canvas for my director.”
Key Transformations Across Diverse Genres
Fieldwork and Historical Immersion: Sant Tukaram
Q: Portraying Avali Jijabai in the period drama Sant Tukaram required stepping into a completely different era. How did you build that authenticity?
Sheena Chohan: “For Avali, I went into villages to observe and interact directly with local women. I studied their mannerisms, everyday rhythms, and physical language. I also read extensively about Avali Jijabai’s life. I wanted her to feel like an authentic woman of her time, not a contemporary actor wearing a period costume. With the film releasing across 300 theaters nationwide, grounding the performance in genuine truth was critical.”
Mastering Physicality: Bhaayava and Justice
Q: In sharp contrast to period drama, you played Lilith in Bhaayava. What went into designing a mythological entity?
Sheena Chohan: “Lilith required a completely different physical and psychological vocabulary. I studied every available reference on her mythology and universe. Working with my coach at The Acting Center in Los Angeles, we focused intensely on raw physicality. I wanted to embody her dangerous, primal energy rather than play a generic caricature.”
Q: In Justice, your performance relied heavily on atmospheric tension. How did you approach the supernatural?
Sheena Chohan: “The director wanted a presence that was mysterious, sensual, and emotionally layered. He pointed me toward Monica Bellucci’s screen presence as a stylistic reference. With a role like that, stillness and micro-expressions communicate far more than dialogue ever could.”
Exploring Emotional Isolation in Walls
Q: Your upcoming short film Walls shifts into subtle psychological drama. What was the central focus for that character?
Sheena Chohan: “In Walls, I play a sound engineer whose devotion to her craft gradually disconnects her from everyday reality. I researched the psychological toll of that isolation and paired it with deep script work. The final step is always letting the director’s vision take over—that balance between thorough prep and complete surrender on set is vital.”
The Road Ahead: Jatasya Maranam Dhruvam
Q: What drives your choice of scripts moving forward?
Sheena Chohan: “I am drawn to layered, deeply human roles that demand genuine transformation over glamour. My goal is to bridge commercial entertainment and independent cinema, bringing emotional authenticity to every frame.”
Q: What can audiences expect next?
Sheena Chohan: “In Jatasya Maranam Dhruvam, I take on the avatar of a lady cop. It pushed me into a fresh physical and mental space, and I’m excited for audiences to experience the film on the big screen.”
Jatasya Maranam Dhruvam is slated for a pan-India theatrical release this autumn.
