I just wanted to try it: Priyanka Mohan on leading Made in Korea

For an actor who has steadily built a presence across Telugu and Tamil cinema, Priyanka Mohan has long been a familiar face, even if not always the focal point. From her debut in the Kannada film Ondh Kathe Hella to mainstream successes like Doctor and Don opposite Sivakarthikeyan, the action adventure film Captain Miller, and the Telugu outing Gang Leader with Nani, her filmography has been marked by range and a quiet screen presence that audiences have come to recognise.

Priyanka Mohan on cross-cultural cinema and embracing a phase of experimentation

But Made in Korea marks a significant shift. For the first time, she is anchoring a narrative, a female-centric story that places her at the heart of both the emotional arc and the cinematic gaze. Interestingly, the decision to take it on wasn’t driven by strategy as much as instinct. “I didn’t think of it in a bigger aspect,” she admits, approaching the project with curiosity, even scepticism. “Why can’t I just try it out?”

Beyond the film, we catch up with her on navigating a cross-cultural film set, building resilience in a hyper-visible industry, what cinema has taught her about people, her evolving approach to choosing roles, and why she’s currently in a phase of simply exploring, experimenting, and showing up for stories that excite her. Excerpts:

What made Made in Korea feel like something you wanted to take on?

When this story came in, I actually didn’t think of it in a bigger aspect. I thought, ‘Okay, this is a very nice, interesting story. Why can’t I just try it out?’ You know, this is my first female-centric film. Like, I haven’t done anything of this sort before. I was a little sceptical in the beginning.

But then, this film really pushed me to try out something like this. It was one-of-a-kind. I don’t think anybody has tried this before. So, I thought, let me just give it a try. 

How did you prepare for this role, and were there any series you watched as part of that process?

To be honest, I didn’t prepare much. I just watched films and then kind of understood the culture, just basic things.

The character that I played in the movie, Shenbagam, knew more about Korea than me. So, I wanted to go there and experience everything. I watched Something in the Rain, then The Legend of the Blue Sea and My Love from the Star. And when I came back from Korea, I watched When Life Gives You Tangerines. That’s like my all-time favourite Korean series.

Before Made in Korea, you had worked across the Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil industries. How different was it working with a predominantly Korean cast and crew?

A lot, actually. One thing that I really didn’t notice much here in the Indian film industry is the reading sessions that Koreans do. I think they follow an American or Western style of filmmaking.

They sit for readings, and they do rehearsals before you begin shooting. So, we went through the entire story again and again to understand the craft, the plot, the characters and the emotions better. That actually is very rare here in India, I feel.

Reading sessions really help us a lot to bond. So, that’s one thing I really want to bring here.

Beyond reading sessions, were there any smaller, more nuanced differences you noticed while working on a Korean set?

They’re all extremely sweet. The minute you enter the set, they greet you — they bow. And even when they pack up, when they say ‘pack up’, we usually just leave, right? Sometimes we don’t even say bye to the entire cast. But there, they wait till everyone is done, and then they all bow again and wish each other good night before leaving.

That was something I really liked and appreciated. It felt very nice to experience that, because here it isn’t always the case. On some sets, yes, but often everyone is busy thinking about the next day or the next schedule. There, they make sure to take a moment to say thank you, appreciate each other’s work, and then leave.

Did you get the chance to explore South Korea beyond the sets?

Not much, because we were shooting almost every day. But once in a while, I went out, tried barbecues, went shopping, skincare, and all that.

Do you see yourself exploring more cross-cultural or international projects going forward?

Yes, I would love to. Right now I’m in that zone of trying out new languages and cross-cultures. Because it’s the best genre ever.

In today’s hyper-visible industry, where artistes are constantly judged online, how do you separate meaningful feedback from noise?

To be honest, anybody who has a public account now has to develop a very thick skin. Because now that social media is accessible to everybody. Everybody has a voice, and they all want to tell us how they feel. So, I think you have to develop a really thick skin.

If it is constructive, take it. Otherwise, if it is hurting you, I think you have to just ignore it. I know it is very, very difficult. But then I think it’s better we ignore the noise than to not.

Coming from an engineering background, what has cinema taught you about people that you might not have learned otherwise?

Cinema opened me up to a different perspective. I’m not from a cinema background, so it helped me connect with a larger audience.

Even people you’ve never met can support you with unconditional love. It’s very powerful, it can take you to a different plane of existence. That humanity is what cinema taught me. You have to be kind no matter what. We are here because of the audience and the love they give us. That’s something I’ve learned from being in this industry.

Your upcoming projects span multiple films like 666 Operation Dream Theatre and Arasan. What are you hoping to explore through these roles at this stage in your career?

All the movies that I’m doing next are all going to be of different genres. And I get to play different, different characters, which I’m really looking forward to.

Because at this point in time in my career, I’m just like looking forward to doing different kinds of roles. And stories that really make me want to go on to the set every single day, wake up and go there. And then I don’t want to hear the word ‘pack up’, you know.

And I’m that state right now, where I’m so passionate about being in front of the camera. So, I’m actually enjoying the process of making movies now.

Years from now, what do you hope people remember most about you and your work?

Honestly, people don’t remember everything. People have forgotten about COVID. Can you believe it? So, you can’t expect everyone to remember you.

But we leave digital imprints. I want to make sure I take my career seriously and do responsible films. Maybe someday, if someone watches my work, I hope it puts a smile on their face.

What’s one life lesson you strongly believe in?

Never take anything for granted. Life doesn’t give you multiple chances. When it does, take it and respect it every minute of the day.

Made in Korea is streaming on Netflix now
Email: shivani@newindianexpress.com
X: @ShivaniIllakiya

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