Shamna Kasim
Indian actress
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Early life
She was born in Kannur to a Malayalee couple Kasim and Ramla. She has done her schooling from St. Teresas Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School in Kannur after shifting from Ursuline Senior Secondary School. She shifted her school to concentrate more on her dancing skills.[4]
Career
2004–2011: Early struggle
She made her acting debut in the 2004 Malayalam film Manju Poloru Penkutty. She played her first major role in her debut Telugu film Sri Mahalakshmi (2007), while playing the lead female character in her first Tamil film, Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu (2008).[5]
Her biggest hit came with Jhossh (2009), a Kannada movie that completed 100 days in the theatres. She has starred in several Tamil films including Kodaikanal (2008), Kandhakottai (2009), Drohi (2010), Aadu Puli (2011), Vellore Maavattam (2011) and Vithagan (2011).
2012–2016: Experimental roles and television
She is best known for her Malayalam movies Chattakkari (2012), Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha (2013) and Mili (2015).
Kasim appeared in a series of films where she portrayed a ghost, with The Hindu labelling her as "the ghost queen of South films".[6] She essayed the lead role in Avunu (2012) and the sequel Avunu 2 (2015) that were successful at the box office. In this brief period of time, she turned down several similar scripts, before acting as a ghost again in Raju Gari Gadhi (2015), which became a hit at the box office.[6]
She extended her appearance from silver screen to numerous Television projects in Telugu and Malayalam, particularly as a Judge in dance reality shows that bought her closer to the audiences. In 2016, she was cast in Telugu comedy Jayammu Nischayammu Raa.[7]
2017–present
Shamna shaved her head completely bald for her role in the Kodiveeran (2017), but the movie met with average reviews.[8]
She has also done a lot of Malayalam like Madhura Raja (2019), Maarconi Mathaai (2019) and Telugu films Akhanda (2021), Drushyam 2 (2021), Dasara (2023) as well. In 2024, she appeared in Tamil horror thriller, Devil.[9]
Poorna had a solo release in 2025 reprising her role from Akhanda in its sequel, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam.[10] After her viral performance in the chartbuster Kurchi Madathapetti song, in 2026, she is all set to feature in another chartbuster alongside Superstar Rajinikanth in Jailer 2. [11]
Personal life
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Manju Poloru Penkutty | Dhanya | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Hridayathil Sookshikkan | Model | ||
| Junior Senior | ||||
| 2006 | Pachakuthira | Raji | ||
| Bhargavacharitham Moonam Khandam | Radhika | |||
| Ennittum | Student | |||
| 2007 | Sri Mahalakshmi | Sri Mahalakshmi | Telugu | |
| Ali Bhai | Kingini | Malayalam | ||
| Flash | Machi | |||
| 2008 | College Kumaran | Sreekutti | ||
| Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu | Madhumitha | Tamil | ||
| Kodaikanal | Brinda | |||
| 2009 | Kandhakottai | Pooja | ||
| Jhossh | Meena | Kannada | ||
| 2010 | Drohi | Malar | Tamil | |
| 9 KK Road | Rosemary | Malayalam | ||
| 2011 | Aadu Puli | Anjali Thillainayagam | Tamil | |
| Seema Tapakai | Sathya | Telugu | ||
| Makaramanju | model | Malayalam | ||
| Vellore Maavattam | Priya | Tamil | ||
| Vithagan | Mercy | |||
| 2012 | Chattakaari | Julie | Malayalam | |
| Avunu | Mohini | Telugu | ||
| 2013 | Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha | Meena Sreekumar | Malayalam | |
| Radhan Ganda | Radha | Kannada | ||
| Jannal Oram | Nirmala David | Tamil | ||
| Thagaraaru | Meenakshi | |||
| 2014 | Laddu Babu | Maya | Telugu | |
| Nuvvala Nenila | Mahalakshmi | |||
| Rajadhi Raja | Dancer | Malayalam | Item Dance in Song "Dhan Than " | |
| 2015 | Mili | Renuka | ||
| Avunu 2 | Mohini | Telugu | ||
| Sakalakala Vallavan | Dancer | Tamil | Special appearance | |
| Srimanthudu | Dancer | Telugu | ||
| Rajugari Gadhi | Bommali | |||
| Mama Manchu Alludu Kanchu | Shruthi Naidu | |||
| 2016 | Jayammu Nischayammu Raa | Rani | ||
| Manal Kayiru 2 | Nisha | Tamil | ||
| 2017 | Kodiveeran | Velu | ||
| 2018 | Savarakathi | Subhadra | Tamil | |
| Oru Kuttanadan Blog | S.I Neena | Malayalam | ||
| Aanakkallan | Rosy Thomas | |||
| Evanukku Engeyo Matcham Irukku | S.I Geetha | Tamil | ||
| Adanga Maru | Subash's lawyer | |||
| Silly Fellows | Krishnaveni | Telugu | ||
| 2019 | Madhura Raja | Amala | Malayalam | |
| Marconi Mathai | Treesa | |||
| Kaappaan | Priya Joseph | Tamil | ||
| 2020 | Lock Up | Malliga | Tamil | Released on ZEE5 |
| 2021 | Power Play | Poorna | Telugu | |
| Sundari | Sundari | |||
| Thalaivi | V. K. Sasikala | Tamil Hindi | ||
| 100 | Anagha | Kannada | ||
| Akhanda | Padmavathi | Telugu | Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu[16] | |
| Drushyam 2 | Adv. Renuka | Amazon Prime Video release | ||
| 2022 | Visithiran | Stella | Tamil | |
| Tees Maar Khan | Vasudha | Telugu | ||
| 2023 | Suvarna Sundari | Anjali | ||
| Dasara | Vadhinamma | |||
| Ala Ila Ela | Anu | |||
| Asalu | Vandana | |||
| 2024 | Devil | Hema | Tamil | |
| Guntur Kaaram | Ramola | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Kurchi Madathapetti"[17] | |
| Bhimaa | Kali | [18] | ||
| Oru Thee | Anu | Tamil | Released on Thanthi One[19] | |
| 2025 | Akhanda 2: Thaandavam | Padmavathi IAS | Telugu | |
| 2026 | Jailer 2 | Dancer | Tamil | Special appearance in the song "Ala Bolelo" |
Television
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019, 2021 | Sixth Sense (game show) | Participant | Star Maa | Telugu | Game show |
| 2021 | Udan Panam | Contestant | Mazhavil Manorama | Malayalam | |
| Not specific | Dhee Telugu (Dance show) | Judge | ETV | Telugu | Dance show |