I met Priyanka Mohan for the first time at a fashion show in Hyderabad. She was dressed in a gold handwoven tissue sari, which seemed as if woven with sunlight and shimmering with heritage. Her presence felt almost regal, like a figure straight out of a Raja Ravi Varma painting that’s poised and graceful. That first impression stayed with me. And now, she turns muse for Khush Wedding’s cover shoot, draped in the most beautiful heritage weaves. Think Banarasi silk, rich brocades, glistening Chanderi six-yards and jewel-toned Paithanis that echo stories of palace corridors and classical frescoes.
In every frame, whether she is seated with a thoughtful gaze or caught mid-turn, Priyanka evokes erstwhile royalty, reminiscent of the queens seen in Mysore’s durbar portraits or the silent grace of temple sculptures. “I had a great time shooting with the Khush team. From the concept to the location, it felt like I was transported back in time,” she tells me. There’s an ease with which she inhabits traditional textiles: a deep maroon brocade feels less like a an heirloom passed down through time; a lush gold silk feels like a sun-warmed relic. She doesn’t just drape these saris, she embodies them. The result is an editorial shoot that feels timeless, relaying South India’s craft legacy and Priyanka’s own journey from contemporary cinema to classical elegance.
On Style & Substance
When I asked Priyanka about her personal style, she smiled and spoke of simplicity and connection. “I love clothes that have a story,” she said, “something woven with human hands, with culture stitched into every thread. It’s why sari is my go-to silhouette, be it a festive or a formal occasion. I particularly love Kanjeevaram silks. And the old-world aesthetic of the looks for this shoot totally align with my personal style,” she adds. It’s a sentiment she carries off the set and onto her Instagram, where over 6 million+ followers watch her share moments from film sets, travel and candid style diaries.
Her sartorial voice is refined without being ostentatious. She leans on clean silhouettes, subtle hues, classic jewellery and timeless textiles. There’s a hark of the past in her choices, be it a beautifully draped sari, a pair of antique gold jhumkas. Priyanka’s mantra isn’t about chasing fleeting trends but about authenticity, self-expression and reverence for craft. It’s a credo that aligns with the ethos Khush Wedding celebrates.
The same can be said about her beauty choices. “I believe beauty begins from within, and skincare will always matter more to me than makeup. I’m not someone who follows an elaborate 10-step routine, but I do have a few non-negotiables. A good exfoliating toner, followed by a nourishing moisturiser and sunscreen, forms the foundation of my skincare ritual. On days when I’m not shooting, I keep my makeup minimal. Kajal, a tinted lip balm and sunscreen are all I need. And when time allows, I turn to simple kitchen remedies I’ve grown up with. A DIY face mask made with besan, turmeric and honey is something I truly swear by. It’s a time-honoured skin salve for Indian women, passed down through generations, and for very good reason.”
A Journey from Engineering to Cinema
Priyanka wasn’t always destined for the silver screen. Born in 1995, she grew up in a culturally diverse household with a Tamilian father and a Kannadiga mother, a background that gifted her a multilingual fluency and an innate comfort across South India’s varied film industries. Remarkably, she began her academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. It was a path far removed from cinema. “I tried my hands at theatre when a friend was doing it in the fourth year of engineering, and it stirred something deeper within me.” From college stages to camera auditions, she charted a course into acting with discipline and curiosity. The transition, she admits, wasn’t always simple. “There were moments of doubt, wondering if I made the right choice, especially when early roles didn’t always feel like me,” she shared. But those experiences, she reflects, were formative and transformative.
Her film debut came in the Telugu action-comedy Gang Leader (2019). It was her Tamil debut in Doctor (2021), opposite Sivakarthikeyan, which became a turning point and earned her the Best Debutant Actress award at the SIIMA Awards and placed her on the radar of audiences and critics alike. From there, Priyanka followed up with notable roles in Don (2022) and Etharkkum Thunindhavan (2022), each expanding her range from charm and sparkle to emotional depth. Her role in They Call Him OG further grew her stature in South Indian cinema and her ability to choose parts that resonate widely.
Her upcoming slate, the much-anticipated Made In Korea, is one she is most excited about. The Netflix original film is a cross-cultural romance that weaves together themes of heartbreak, identity and resilience. Priyanka shares that she was instantly drawn to the narrative’s fresh perspective and emotional depth. “When I heard the entire script, I just knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it,” she recalls, describing her character’s journey from heartbreak to empowerment.
Beyond Films: A Voice in the Digital Age
Being a contemporary actress also comes with new responsibilities, which is something Priyanka has taken seriously. In late 2025, she spoke out publicly against the circulation of AI-generated fake images purporting to show her in misleading ways. Her message was clear: as technology evolves, so must our collective digital mindfulness. Priyanka urged fans and the public alike to avoid sharing fabricated visuals, a thoughtful stance on women’s safety, ethics and personal dignity in an era of rapid media distortion. “When I saw those nasty montages of my morphed version, I was shocked and scared because it looked too real, even to me. Soon, it was circulated everywhere online. Sadly, not limited to me, but a lot of women go through this. And it is extremely disturbing. AI is both a boon and a bane, and hence, needs to be handled and used with responsibility,” she adds. While she prefers privacy about her personal life, her public awareness of representation, agency and respect across digital and cultural landscapes is part of her understated but influential voice.
The Heart of a Storyteller
In conversation, Priyanka reveals that what draws her most to a role isn’t the glamour, but it’s the story. “I don’t pick projects based on just my part, but the entire arc. Of course, then I want to know my role and how it interacts with other characters and the impact it is likely to bring to the film. But my final ‘Yes!’ is an instinctive process. My ultimate gold is to do characters that feel real, that teach me something about empathy,” she says. There’s a sincere hunger in her eyes when she says this, a storyteller’s hunger. Her rise, while swift, is not meteoric by chance. It is built on thoughtful choices, a steady embrace of craft and humility that makes her relatable and aspirational. Like the heritage weaves she graces so naturally, Priyanka charts her own narrative, interweaving tradition with ambition, elegance with earnestness and a reverence for the past with a restless curiosity about the future.
Priyanka’s Saris: Kalki Fashion
Priyanka’s Jewellery: Shree Jewellers
Editor in-chief: Sonia Ullah
Photographer & Videographer: Sai Tejaaa
Creative Director: Manni Sahota
Fashion Editor: Vikas Rattu
Junior Fashion Editor, Concept & Styling: Tanishq Malhotraa
HMU: Sadhna Singh
Footwear: Elements by Radhika Gupta
Styling assistants: Bhavya, Style by Bhavana
Location: Yellow Verandah
Artist Management: Southbay Talent
