India, March 12 -- Just not too long ago, Priyanka Mohan's world was very different from today. The actor was born in Bengaluru and she was was pursuing engineering. Basically, her world was very far from films. Yet, between college and modelling assignments, something changed. Within a few years, Priyanka had made an almost unnoticed transition into acting, slowly making her own space in South Indian cinema. Here is all you need to know about Priyanka Mohan.
Films such as Nani-starrer Gang Leader, Sivakarthikeyan's Doctor, and Don (also starring Sivakarthikeyan) were an introduction to the audience to her screen presence. Unlike most new actresses who enter the industry with the hype that comes with it, the rise of Mohan has been more of a slow and steady one.
However, now her journey is about to take a new turn. Priyanka Mohan is all set to shine in the upcoming Netflix movie Made in Korea, which releases this Friday. It not only marks a new milestone in her career, but it also indicates how far she has come.
Meet Priyanka Mohan: The rising South star leading Netflix's Made in Korea
As with most actors in the modern age of cinema, the transition of Mohan into the industry began through modelling. While she may have begun as a hobbyist in the industry, she quickly found her work leading her towards auditioning for roles. While her transition from an engineering student to an actress was not an instantaneous one, her work in the industry quickly gained momentum.
A debut that set the tone
Priyanka Mohan entered the world of acting with her first role in a Kannada film called Ondh Kathe Hella in 2019. Although the film did not turn out to be a huge commercial success, it did serve its purpose. It introduced Priyanka to the industry and showcased her capabilities as an actress who could hold her own.
Interestingly, Priyanka's big break did not come from her work in the Kannada industry, but from her work in the Telugu industry. Later in 2019, Priyanka appeared on screen with Nani in a stylish revenge thriller called Gang Leader, directed by Vikram Kumar. The film was a success, and more importantly, Priyanka received national recognition. For many people, this was probably the first time they were aware of the actor who had a serene on-screen presence and a naturalistic acting style.
The Tamil breakthrough: Doctor
While Gang Leader may have brought Priyanka Mohan to the attention of the public, Doctor made her an established face. The dark comedy thriller, which was released in 2021, was an enormous commercial success. The film's unique genre and the way it combined deadpan humour and the kidnapping plot were quite distinctive.
Priyanka Mohan's role was perhaps not the most prominent in the film, but she anyway garnered a lot of media and audience attention. Doctor's success was transformative for her career.
Building a career across industries
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Priyanka Mohan's career is the ease with which she moves between industries. While it is common for actors to take years establishing themselves in one industry before transitioning to another, Priyanka Mohan's career in both the Telugu and Tamil industries happened from the very start.
After the success of her second film, Doctor, she again worked with Sivakarthikeyan in Don, which was a commercial success and further helped her establish herself in multiple film industries in South India.
The next step: Made in Korea
But now comes what may turn out to be one of the most interesting periods of her career so far: the upcoming Netflix film Made in Korea. The film tells the story of Shenba, a young Indian woman from Tamil Nadu whose wish to travel to South Korea leads her to a new and unexpected life abroad. While the new experience gradually turns out to be a journey of dislocation and self-discovery, the film is also set in Seoul, a city in a foreign land.
For Priyanka Mohan, the film represents something new: a film being released worldwide on the Netflix. The project will introduce new audiences outside the confines of the country to her.