The Cast of Made in Korea Spotted at the International Film Festival Delhi

The cast of Made in Korea was recently spotted at the International Film Festival Delhi 2026. The film stars Priyanka Arul Mohan as the leading lady in the role of Shenbagam/Shenba, a young girl who dreams of visiting South Korea.

Image Source: DDNEWS

Priyanka Arul Mohan takes centre stage in Made in Korea. In a conversation with the leading lady, Priyanka shared, “The entire experience feels surreal.”

The cross-diverse project has transcended across nations. The Daebak Company had an opportunity to connect with Priyanka Arul Mohan. In the interview, she walked us through her role, working in Seoul, language barriers, future aspirations and what her 3 must-haves are.

How are you feeling post-release, and what was it like filming on location in South Korea?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

We are humbled beyond words. I feel extremely proud as an Indian to be a part of a diverse project. The love and support our film has received left the team and me overwhelmed and overjoyed at the same time, and we are deeply grateful for all the love. The film has transcended borders and is globally recognised. As you know, it is a one-of-a-kind film, like nobody has explored the Korean market, yet in India, as of now, so we’re really proud of it. The entire experience feels surreal. South Korea is a beautiful country, and it was amazing shooting in Seoul, and we had so much fun filming there.

You play a relatable young girl. Shenbagam is a girl with dreams and is full of life. How much of Priyanka is in Shenba, and how is Priyanka different from Shenba?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

Well, to begin with, I have done a lot of films, but this happens to be the first film that is centred around me. This film was a huge responsibility; in terms of performance, I wanted to give my best, and I am so happy to see people showering so much love on this character, Shenbagum. It feels like they have owned her, which is truly a big thing for me.

To be honest, I find a lot of me in her. There are several similarities, for instance, doing things without inhibition, being able to do anything for the loved ones, her resilience, innocence, confidence, and how she thrives no matter what’s thrown at her. I see a lot of me in her.

Speaking of how she (Shenba) is different from me, there isn’t much difference that I can think of. Probably, I wouldn’t be as naive as her if you observe in the very beginning of the film, Shenbagum tends to trust a person only to realise she was deceived. Probably, I am different in that aspect, but most of my qualities are similar to hers. I made sure that I filled her up with a lot of my qualities while performing the role.

Securing a cross-border lead role is a massive accomplishment. How did this journey start, and how did you navigate the language barrier with your Korean co-stars (like No Ho-jin, Kim Hye Jin and others) using non-verbal cues and micro-expressions?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

It is indeed a big accomplishment. I didn't think of it like that in the beginning. Now that I, along with my team, analyse, we can see that the film has transcended borders, being recognised by many.

In the initial days of filming, we did have a little bit of a language situation. Not a massive challenge, we had a spot on translator in order to work it through, we really relied on her for pretty much everything. The directors had to coordinate with her to communicate with other actors, and for us to communicate, she was bridging that gap. The initial days of the shoot were a wee bit challenging because of the language difference, but otherwise, after a point, as you mentioned, with the help of micro expressions and non-verbal signs, we were able to understand each other better, and at some point, we didn't need a translator.

We filmed in South Korea for a month and a half, and micro-expressions did come in handy. I would enact through gestures to communicate, and my co-stars would interpret rapidly. We had so much fun in this process.

I think of them as my family now, and I proudly call them my family.

Now that we are discussing your work with South Korean artists, is there any South Korean director or actor you would love to work with in the future?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

Yes, I would really love to collaborate with South Korean actors and directors.

I would want to work with the director Bong Joon Ho, the director of the film Parasite (2019). I really fell in love with the movie. I would also like to work with the director (Kim Won-seok), who directed When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025), I really fell in love with that series, so I would definitely want to work with him.

Speaking of actors I would want to collaborate with, Lee Min Ho, he is a notable figure, also Hyun Bin. There are several actors that I would want to collaborate with. I believe I would not be able to do any justice by mentioning a few names, so yeah, looking forward to it.

People often get stuck seeing an actor as just one famous character. Do you feel this movie helps you break out of that box and show everyone what else you can do?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

People know me for various good characters that I have done in the past. The role of Shenba helped me break out of that box; it has opened new possibilities for me with such incredible and challenging roles. Also, I must say, the love and respect Shenba is receiving is massive, and Made In Korea has helped me greatly in that aspect.

Many of your roles balance vulnerability with determination, proving that softness isn't a weakness. In that context, how do you define Shenba’s strength, and what is your personal definition of a strong woman?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

I really love this question. Thank you for asking. Yes, softness isn't definitely a weakness. I would say Shenba is resilient. Lost in a faraway country, despite not knowing what to do. She didn’t give up. She stood strong and fought for her everyday life. Maybe the challenges she faced were to make her strong. I think her innocence, boldness, and inner strength are her positive traits. My definition of a strong woman would be someone who is not limited to being physically strong. Mental strength is equally crucial, being able to speak up for herself and express herself at all times, showing up and not giving up is my definition of a strong woman.

I know the world isn't always really nice to all the women, but showing up on the hard days and marching forward with determination can make a huge difference. 

That shot on the elephant was stunning. Can you walk us through the scene? I'm curious if it was filmed on location with a real animal or done in a studio.

Well, thank you so much. Glad you really liked the scene. Elephant suggests prosperity, and nobody would have thought of such a beautiful, extravagant entry for a female-led film.

It is one of my favourite shots in the film, and one of my favourite entries in the films that I have worked on so far. We filmed with a real elephant, in an actual location in Munar. There was no use of the green screen, and we chose to film in an actual location over the studio setting for this scene.

Shenba really shines as a problem solver under pressure. A great example is the scene in Granny’s kitchen where, despite running out of ingredients, she pulls a win, with Indo-Kimchi fried rice. It makes me wonder: what’s your favourite Korean dish, and how well do you handle stress under pressure?

Image Source: Priyanka Mohan

Thank you, and that's really sweet of you to notice the shot in the scene and call her a problem solver.  

My favourite Korean dishes are tofu soup (soondubu jjigae) and chicken barbecue. I also enjoy bibimbap and Korean fried chicken.

Speaking of how well I handle stress under pressure, when I first started in this industry, I was young and new to all of it. I didn’t know how to handle things; to be precise, I didn’t possess as much patience as I do now. It was an alien world to me. I was young, and it wasn’t easy to handle all of it by myself. The experience changed that for me; my patience is comparatively higher now than it was then, and I work and handle things accordingly. I take a moment to analyse before I respond or attempt to solve any problems under stress.

I prefer having everything in control, as stress is not good for health, and I do my best not to be under stress.

At Daebak, we do a few boxes related to beauty and snacks. If you had to pack a 'Made in Korea' box that tells the story of your movie from Tamil Nadu to Seoul, which 3 items are absolute must-haves?

If I have to speak with respect to Shenbas' character, the first thing that she would have is a translator, for sure, because it really helped her throughout the film. The second thing would be her crochet bag, the yellow crochet bag, the famous one. The last thing has to be her passport. I believe these are her must-haves for sure.

More About Made In Korea:

Image Source: IMBD

Ra Karthik’s Made In Korea happens to be the first-ever South Indian production to star a female lead in a cross-diverse Indo-Korean project. The film has been recognised as an Indian film that has sustained its position at the top of the list amongst non-English films for two weeks, according to a recent report released by Doordarshan. Released on 12th March 2026, the film stars Priyanka Arul Mohan, No Ho Jin and Kim Hye Jin in the lead roles.

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