Shivanshi Sen: The Newcomer Who Never Planned to Act

Bhubaneswar: For most people, a career in finance and a career in films belong to two different worlds. Shivanshi Sen has managed to bridge both.

A qualified ACCA professional, former state-level badminton player, successful model and now actress, Shivanshi has made an impressive entry into Odia cinema with Guruji Namaskar. What makes her story stand out isn’t just her debut—it’s the unexpected path that brought her here.

“Cinema was never part of the plan”

Unlike many actors who dream of the silver screen from childhood, Shivanshi says acting happened almost accidentally.

“I was focused on academics and was pursuing Chartered Accountancy. Modelling started during my college days simply as a hobby. Then COVID changed everything. I got an opportunity to do a professional shoot during the lockdown, accepted it just for the experience, and after that, one assignment led to another. Before I realised it, acting had become my profession.”

She says every opportunity pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her discover a passion she never knew she had.

 

Beyond beauty and glamour

Having represented West Bengal in badminton and completed the demanding ACCA qualification, Shivanshi believes discipline has been the biggest advantage in her acting career.

“People often think modelling and acting are similar, but they are completely different. Modelling is about presenting yourself, while acting is about becoming someone else. Every character has a different emotional journey, and that’s what excites me.”

Learning a new language for one role

Although Guruji Namaskar marks her Ollywood debut, Odisha wasn’t unfamiliar territory.

Having featured in advertising campaigns for brands including Ola, Berger Paints, Lalchand Jewellers and Swosti Premium, she had already spent considerable time in the state.

Still, playing Padma required much more than familiarity.

“I didn’t know Odia when I was selected. Since Padma is a Bengali girl who speaks broken Odia, I worked intensely on the language. Within about 45 days, I was comfortable enough to perform naturally in front of the camera.”

Finding Padma

In the film, Shivanshi plays Padma, a young Bengali woman whose life revolves around her husband, Guruji, a dedicated teacher.
“Padma is innocent, emotional and very different from me. She craves love and attention, but Guruji is completely devoted to his students and their future. Her emotional loneliness forms the heart of the story.”
For Shivanshi, portraying such vulnerability became the most challenging part of the film.

An encouraging beginning

Even before the film reached theatres, Shivanshi had begun receiving offers from other Odia filmmakers.
Rather than rushing into new projects, she chose to wait.

“I wanted audiences to watch my first film before I signed another. Now I’m looking for stories that challenge me as an actor. I don’t want to do roles just for glamour—I want characters that stay with people.”

Dream collaborations

Asked about the actors she hopes to work with, Shivanshi smiles without hesitation.
“I’d love to work with Babushaan Mohanty, Anubhav Mohanty and Sabyasachi Mishra. They are outstanding performers, and sharing the screen with them would be a great learning experience.”

The road ahead

For Shivanshi Sen, Guruji Namaskar is not just a debut—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. With the discipline of an athlete, the precision of a finance professional and the curiosity of a newcomer eager to learn, she hopes to carve a meaningful place in Odia cinema.
“If the audience accepts me, I would love to continue working in Ollywood for many years. This is just the beginning.”