Priyanka Mohan's Solo Lead Role Marks Career Milestone After Seven Years Priyanka Arul Mohan, an actress who transitioned from engineering to cinema, is making headlines with her solo lead film, Made in Korea, now streaming on Netflix. The movie, directed by Ra. Karthik, premiered on March 12, 2026, and marks her first major role as the central character. After seven years in the industry, the 31-year-old actress is finally stepping into the spotlight as the protagonist of her own story. Born in 1995, Priyanka grew up in Bengaluru, where she pursued a degree in Biological Engineering at PES University. While her academic path was clear, her passion for theatre began during college. She participated in stage plays, a hobby that eventually led her to acting. In an earlier interview with The Hindu, she described her initial foray into theatre as an experiment to explore alternative career options. Her parents, supportive of her creative interests, encouraged her to pursue her passion. Priyanka’s family background also shaped her linguistic and cultural identity. Her mother is from Karnataka, and her father is Tamil, which influenced her fluency in both Kannada and Tamil. Over time, she also learned Telugu, noting the similarities between the languages. This multilingual versatility has become a key asset in her career, allowing her to work across South Indian cinema. Her acting debut came in 2019 with the Kannada film Ondh Kathe Hella. The same year, she gained wider recognition for her role in the Telugu film Gang Leader, starring alongside Nani. This project solidified her presence in the industry and opened doors to collaborations with other prominent actors, including Sivakarthikeyan and Pawan Kalyan. The release of Made in Korea represents a significant turning point in her career.#netflix #priyanka_arul_mohan #ra_karthik #made_in_korea #the_hindu
‘Made In Korea’ movie review: An earnest Priyanka Mohan shoulders a cursory Hallyu excursion The film Made In Korea explores the intersection of Indian and South Korean cultures through the story of Shenba, a young woman from Tamil Nadu who moves to Seoul after a personal loss. Her journey is framed as a quest for self-discovery, community, and resilience, with a focus on her relationship with an elderly Korean woman. The narrative begins with Shenba’s fascination with South Korea, sparked by a school project that connects her town to the country’s history. This curiosity leads her to Seoul, where she navigates the challenges of a foreign environment, from learning to queue for public transport to finding work as a helper in a mansion. The film highlights her gradual integration into the city’s rhythm, aided by a kind stranger and a vlogger who becomes her first friend. Director Ra Karthik’s approach emphasizes Shenba’s emotional growth over romantic subplots, a departure from typical K-drama tropes. The story’s premise—centered on identity and belonging—resonates with global audiences, particularly as the K-wave gains traction in India. However, the film’s execution falls short of its potential. While Shenba’s journey is earnest and relatable, the addition of multiple subplots—such as her friends’ ambitions as singing superstars—dilutes the narrative. These arcs feel abrupt and underdeveloped, overshadowing the film’s core themes. The reviewer notes that a more focused exploration of Shenba’s daily life, such as her attempts to cook Korean dishes like garlic kimchi fried rice, would have provided deeper insight into her adaptation. Priyanka Mohan’s performance as Shenba is heartfelt and convincing, capturing the character’s vulnerability and determination.#ra_karthik #made_in_korea #park_hye_jin #priyanka_mohan #shenba
Made in Korea OTT review: A wasted opportunity A young woman from a hill town in Tamil Nadu, Shenba (Priyanka Mohan), has been captivated by Korean culture since childhood. Her obsession with K-dramas leads her to climb atop an elephant to secure a shaky internet connection, a visually striking moment in the film. However, the movie’s writer-director, Ra Karthik, fails to explore the deeper cultural ties between South Korea and Tamil Nadu. Beyond a disputed legend about a Korean queen’s Tamil heritage, the film lacks curiosity about the broader appeal of the Hallyu wave, which has influenced global audiences, including India. The narrative positions Korea as a backdrop for Shenba’s self-discovery, but the plot feels shallow. She relies heavily on her boyfriend, Mani (Rishikanth), to make critical decisions, including moving to Seoul for work. The film suggests that securing employment in Seoul is effortless, yet once there, Shenba faces a series of disappointments. Mani disappears, and the promised job is revealed as a scam. Shenba’s journey becomes a series of missteps, with only a few characters—like a young man (No Ho-jin) and an elderly woman (Park Hye-Jin)—offering her support. These figures, however, feel more like fairy-tale archetypes than realistic individuals. The film’s staging and script lack coherence, mirroring Shenba’s disjointed experience. At 113 minutes, the movie struggles to create a believable or engaging journey. The absence of realistic details or lived-in textures undermines Shenba’s transformation. Priyanka Mohan’s performance as a hapless heroine draws comparisons to Kangana Ranaut’s Rani from Queen (2013), but without the latter’s charisma or adventurous spirit. The Korean characters, while well-intentioned, feel underdeveloped and implausible.#ra_karthik #park_hye_jin #priyanka_mohan #rishikanth #no_ho_jin
Priyanka Mohan Discusses Food Challenges and Weather Struggles During 40-Day 'Made in Korea' Shoot Priyanka Mohan’s 40-day filming experience for the film Made in Korea was marked by several challenges, including difficulties with food and unpredictable weather, according to the actress. Despite these obstacles, she expressed her enjoyment of the project, which she described as her first international collaboration. Food became a significant issue during her stay in South Korea. Speaking to IANS, Mohan revealed that the local cuisine posed a problem for her dietary preferences. “Food was quite a problem for me because they put red meat in most dishes,” she said. While she is primarily a vegetarian, she noted that she has recently started incorporating chicken into her meals, indicating a shift in her eating habits during the shoot. The weather in Korea also presented a major challenge. Mohan described the climate as highly variable, with rapid changes from sunny mornings to rainy afternoons and snowy nights. “You could have the sun shining in the morning, and it would be raining by afternoon and snowing by night,” she explained. These sudden shifts complicated the filming schedule, requiring the crew to adapt quickly to the changing conditions. Despite the difficulties, Mohan expressed a strong connection with the Korean cast and crew. She highlighted the professionalism and approachability of the actors, noting that the team’s camaraderie made the experience rewarding. “This was my first ever international collaboration, and the Korean artists are all very, very down to earth,” she said. She added that the actors rehearsed thoroughly before filming, which helped streamline the production process.#south_korea #ra_karthik #made_in_korea #priyanka_mohan #korean_cast
Priyanka Mohan on how filming ‘Made In Korea’ was an experience to cherish Ahead of the release of Netflix’s cross-cultural project Made In Korea, actor Priyanka Arul Mohan and director Ra Karthik shared insights about their journey filming in Seoul, working with a Korean cast and crew, and how the film became a journey of discovery. The film follows Shenba, a character played by Mohan, as she navigates her fascination with South Korea, moving from her hometown in Tamil Nadu to the Land of Morning Calm. For Shenba, South Korea is a distant, almost fantastical place filled with K-Pop and K-Drama dreams. Initially, she believes a train will take her there, but as she grows, her yearning to visit the country deepens. The film blends her personal journey with family and relationship drama, avoiding the typical romance tropes of K-Dramas. Director Ra Karthik emphasized that the story was crafted to connect with fans of K-Pop and K-Dramas by focusing on the shared aspiration of visiting South Korea. “I wanted to explore both the fantasy and realities of this dream,” he explained, “and have her journey through human values rather than romance.” Mohans’ role as Shenba marked a milestone in her career, as it was her first film where she took the lead. The Tamil-Korean collaboration, a first for the region, brought together a diverse cast, including Korean actors like Park Hye-jin, known for her role in Squid Game. Priyanka described the experience as immersive, noting how the team, like Shenba, was constantly learning and discovering new aspects of Korean culture, food, and values during their one-and-a-half months of filming. Karthik shared his own experiences navigating Seoul, recalling how he arrived a week before the crew and had to figure out transportation and daily life on his own.#priyanka_arul_mohan #ra_karthik #made_in_korea #park_hye_jin #seoul
