Sheena Chohan on Her Telugu Debut Lilith, Working with Mammootty, and More
The very graceful and talented Sheena Chohan has been casting her magic in the entertainment industry for a while now. With her striking screen presence and powerful performances to boot, Sheena’s leap to starring in a major series like *Lilith* is the natural next step for this actress at the top of her game. In this candid conversation, Sheena talks about what it was like working so early in her career, with the legendary actor Mammootty and how she has been faring from there until now.
The Journey to *Lilith*
The journey of Sheena Chohan to Lilith has been purely based on hard work and perseverance. Naturally for the actress whose acting credits could fill an entire telegram, Lilith arrived at a moment Molly felt like she rediscovered her more well-rehearsed self and was actively searching for something juicy that would rub up against the stuff of which bold actors are made.
The character that I connected most deeply with when [OBShowrunner] Graeme first told me about Lilith was — How do you call this? Her air was so mysterious and strong that I knew then, a have to be apart of this project. It was a hard decision to choose and there were hours of intense auditions, but I laid it all on the line because I loved the story so much.
It was this perseverance that lead to Sheena being chosen as the leading lady. Recalling the moment she found out, Sheena said: ‘It was surreal. Then I got the call from the director and was ecstatic. It was one of those moments that you feel like all the grind and sleepless nights are worth it.
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Collaborating with Mammootty
The most exciting part of Lilith for Sheena is the prospect to work with Mammootty, a living legend in indias showbiz industry. The experience was gushed over by The actress.Wild Women Wild WineVol no Mammootty sir is someone I have absolutely idolised for years. He has a great body of work, and the way he breathes life into any character even his most recent one makes every actor crave on wishing they could have that kind personality. I was excited but of course nervous when I found out that i would be working with him.
Sharing that Mammootty was the gracious co-star she felt comfortable with right from day one, Sheena said He is so humble and accessible. For as big of a star that he was, Magnum always treated me like I mattered so much to him on his show. He actually gave me quite a few pointers when we were discussing now to take on certain scenes, for which I am very appreciative.
But nothing could compare to what Sheena learnt as an actor when working with Mammootty. She said, “I just found watching him work was like going to school for acting. He’s so amazing at slipping in to his role with ease, and that is something i wish to achieve as-well. Every day on set was a school and I am grateful for that.
The Challenges of Playing Lilith
The role of Lilith was far too demanding for Sheena to fulfill. The character was dark and intense, very unlike anything she had done before. Lilith is an layered character, at least in the mind of Behr and company. There are so many layers to her and it was super challenging for me to really embody all of them. Parts were like, I had to dig so deep in myself and figure out how much of the pain or anger or vulnerability can I feel that Lilith is feeling.
Sheena did a lot of research and tried to learn as much about her character beforehand. From insinuations about the strains of aging — even though most modern singers receive a little technological help; hello, Auto-Tune — to snorts questioning if Streisand had worked with a coach in much-discussed detail (she did). Lilith has been such a strong character for so long that I just wanted to ensure the story did her justice. I know that in order to immortalize her on screen, I have to be ONE with who she is — what drives her, what terrifies her and where does wants come from. Granted it was laborious, however I preferred each second of it.
The Importance of *Lilith*
Lilith is a project that’s near and dear to Sheena for both the role it has given her as well as its subject matter. Thus the show explores the less seen and heard facets including power, identity, supernatural so on of out society. *Sheena *hopes that*Lilith will meet those expectations. Lilith is not just about one woman; it’s the story of all our battles and victories in life. This speaks to the decisions we create and their paths. Lilith in particular they think the audiences will find themselves relating to a lot more than you would expect.
The series also tackles questions of gender and empowerment, something Sheena believes is very current. Lilith: A no-nonsense woman who is fiercely independent and will do anything for what she believes. She questions the norm and will never be what society says she should. I think that is something many people, specifically women, can draw inspiration from.
Looking back and looking forward
When she thinks about how far gone so is, Sheena can barely contain her gratitude for some of the opportunities that have come into life. She fell into acting after previously working as a model, but vividly recalls her fascination with storytelling from an early age. “Working on projects you care about is an amazing thing that I feel truly lucky to have done. Whether it was my work in the theatre, or whether I was doing films and even Lilith now — the projects that come to me are actually a reflection of some kind of resonance with something quite personal. Ultimately I think as an actor you will just want to be truthful and the stories that you are trying to share.
Sheena is enthusiastic about the future, on what lies ahead. The latter has her associated with some major filmmakers and actors for upcoming projects. But she is also interested in trying her hand at other things, like writing and making films. I have been a fan of the creative process always, and I feel there is so much more which want to do. From writing my own stories to directing a film, all possibilities are open.
The journey of Sheena Chohan in the world of entertainment is a manifestation of this fact and only. Whether it be from her model beginnings to starring in an ever changing format like Lilith, Mischa has shown she’s a force with whom to contend. Throughout her career, and as she continues to break the mould of what it means to be a pop artist poised for mainstream success – Sheena will undoubtedly make an impact in the industry that remains everlasting.
For fans waiting to see her in action, Lilith will be an engrossing and powerful series that allows Sheena the opportunity to display just how wide a range she possesses. As she says, “This is only the beginning. I have so much more impactful work to do and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”