Sheena Chohan Writes A Heartfelt Letter To Theatre, Says, “It Has Been My Greatest Teacher”

On World Theatre Day, actress Sheena Chohan looks back at a life shaped by the stage. From early childhood in Calcutta to her Hindi debut film Sant Tukaram, Sheena credits theatre for every layer of craft, discipline and emotional strength that guides performances across languages and mediums. That connection remains active. Sheena has recently acted in Laila Majnu with Surnai Theatre, led by Ila Arun, at Prithvi Theatre and NCPA Mumbai. The play keeps Sheena connected to live audiences and reminds Sheena of why stage work first drew such deep interest.

Sheena Chohan theatre journey from childhood stage to school performances

Sheena’s relationship with theatre started when Sheena was two years old. An aunt in Calcutta first placed Sheena on stage as a baby performer. That early exposure sparked curiosity. It later grew into a focused passion as Sheena began taking formal theatre work seriously.

As Sheena grew older, training deepened at Padatik, where Sheena played Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The role demanded structure and effort. Rehearsals taught Sheena to respect timing, voice, and movement, building habits of discipline and preparation that continue to guide screen performances.

School years and Sheena Chohan theatre journey into performance skills

After moving to The Lawrence School, Kasauli, Sheena kept performing in campus productions. The first school play placed Sheena alongside Yuvraj Singh, grandson of Pran. Over the years, Sheena joined more than a dozen productions, including musicals that drew on training in dance and martial arts.

Those school musicals helped Sheena understand how physical skills could support character work. Dance sharpened rhythm and grace. Martial arts informed posture and presence. Together, they helped Sheena explore characters’ inner lives while keeping performances precise, expressive and rooted in controlled physicality.

Delhi training, Arvind Gaur and Sheena Chohan theatre journey

A move to Delhi opened another chapter when Sheena began training under theatre director Arvind Gaur. Sheena spent five years working in Gaur’s group, which has also trained actors like Kangana Ranaut. During this period, Sheena performed in many street theatre productions across the city.

Street theatre under Arvind Gaur taught Sheena to respond to audiences in real time. Performances happened in open spaces, without formal stages or lighting. Sheena learned to project clearly, hold attention in busy public areas, and communicate stories with a direct, unfiltered energy.

"Dear Theatre, You have been my greatest teacher, shaping how I approach every character and performance. From you, I learned how to truly understand and inhabit a character—how to research, build their world, and bring authenticity to every moment. You taught me professionalism, discipline, and the art of surrendering completely to the story, so I can be a blank page for my directors and bring their vision to life. Every role I perform carries your lessons and my love for the craft. For this, I am endlessly grateful."

From stage to screen in the Sheena Chohan theatre journey

The stage experience naturally guided Sheena toward cinema. Sheena’s film debut came opposite Mammootty, introducing Sheena to a new set environment. Later, work with filmmaker Buddhadev Dasgupta further refined Sheena’s approach to subtlety, camera awareness and emotional detail in tight close-ups.

Digital projects expanded Sheena’s reach, including the Netflix film Ant Story. With each role, Sheena has applied theatre discipline to screen work. The Hindi debut in Sant Tukaram continues that line, joining film, streaming and stage into one continuous practice grounded in theatre methods.

Sheena’s mentor recently responded to this progress. Arvind Gaur, who had directed Sheena in numerous street plays, watched Sant Tukaram and noted how theatre training linked to the performance, seeing a complete circle from early rehearsals in Delhi to the Bollywood debut.

Arvind Gaur said:

"Sheena is a true director's actress, completely devoted to the story and the director's vision. She's honest, disciplined, professional. She is a true joy to work with—she commits fully to every character and brings the director's vision to life with focus, passion, commitment and dedication."

Across childhood productions in Calcutta, school plays in Kasauli, street theatre in Delhi and recent work at Prithvi Theatre and NCPA Mumbai, Sheena Chohan’s path shows steady continuity. Theatre remains the centre of Sheena’s craft, guiding each character choice in films like Ant Story and Sant Tukaram.