Shamna Kasim, also known as Poorna, is enjoying renewed attention for her dance performance in Ala Bolelo, a song from Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2. With audiences drawing comparisons between her performance and Tamannaah Bhatia’s much-talked-about number Kaavaalaa from the first Jailer film, Shamna says she was confident that the two songs had distinct styles and choreography.
In an interview with NDTV, the Malayalam actor spoke about landing the opportunity, working with Rajinikanth, filming the energetic number and discovering that she had been pregnant with her second child during the shoot.
How Shamna Kasim Landed Ala Bolelo in Jailer 2
Shamna said the opportunity came as a surprise and was linked to the attention she received for performing Kurchi Madathapetti in Mahesh Babu’s Telugu film Guntur Kaaram.
According to the actor, director Nelson Dilipkumar was keen to have her perform Ala Bolelo, partly because her earlier dance performance had helped her reach a wider audience. The song also has a Malayalam influence, making Shamna a natural choice for the sequence.
She credited Nelson, Sun Pictures and the film’s team for giving her the opportunity to be part of the Jailer franchise.
The casting and production process moved quickly. Shamna recalled initially being surprised by the call and choosing not to share the news with her husband or mother until the project was confirmed. Discussions and arrangements were finalised within a week, and the song was filmed over six days.
For the actor, being part of a major Rajinikanth film was a significant moment in her career.
Shamna Kasim Reveals She Was Pregnant During the Song Shoot
One of the most surprising aspects of the Ala Bolelo shoot, Shamna revealed, was that she did not know she was pregnant with her second child at the time.
She explained that she had combined the filming schedule with a holiday and travelled to India for the project. After completing the six-day shoot, she went to Bengaluru to film the climax portions of her Telugu movie Akhanda.
It was during that subsequent schedule that she began recognising symptoms she associated with her earlier pregnancy.
Shamna said she would not have undertaken such a physically demanding dance sequence had she known she was pregnant. By the time Ala Bolelo was released, she had already welcomed her baby.
The revelation adds a personal dimension to the story behind the energetic performance, which required several days of filming and demanding choreography.
Shamna Kasim Recalls Dancing in Front of Rajinikanth
Working with Rajinikanth was another memorable part of the experience. Shamna admitted that she initially felt nervous about performing in front of the superstar.
She recalled having a few shots with him and feeling intimidated by the prospect of dancing while he stood in front of her. However, a compliment from the actor helped put her at ease.
According to Shamna, Rajinikanth told her that she had very powerful eyes after one of their shots together. The remark stayed with her, and she said she still remembers his words when she looks at her eyes.
For Shamna, the interaction became a particularly cherished memory from her time on the film.
Shamna Kasim on Comparisons With Tamannaah Bhatia
Comparisons between Ala Bolelo and Kaavaalaa were difficult to avoid, given the prominence of the dance numbers in their respective films. However, Shamna said she was comfortable with the comparison because she viewed the songs as different in their musical styles, choreography and performances.
She acknowledged that she felt some pressure because Ala Bolelo was an important sequence and the team was keen to get it right. She had initially expected to appear in only a small portion of the song, but the rehearsals made it clear that the performance would be centred on her.
Shamna also praised Tamannaah’s work in Kaavaalaa, saying that the style of the earlier number was different from the kind of dancing she felt most comfortable performing.
Rather than treating the two performances as competing versions of the same thing, Shamna emphasised their individual identities. Her confidence came from understanding that each song had its own choreography and character.
Dance Has Been Central to Shamna Kasim’s Career
Dance has been an important part of Shamna’s life since childhood. The actor said her passion for the art form played a major role in bringing her into the film industry, and she now runs a dance school in Dubai.
She also recalled winning titles such as Kalathilakam during her early years. Over the course of her career, several of her dance numbers found audiences in different regional film industries, although she noted that songs did not always reach viewers across languages before social media became widespread.
After marriage and motherhood, Shamna had not expected to receive an opportunity of this scale with a major film franchise. She said she had long hoped that audiences across industries would recognise her for her dancing.
The response to Ala Bolelo has made that aspiration especially meaningful for her. Shamna reflected that the opportunity arrived at a stage of life when she had already become a mother of two.
Shamna Kasim Looks Forward to Jailer 2 Release
Shamna expressed excitement about watching Jailer 2 on the big screen in Malaysia, where she was expected to attend the film’s release on October 15, according to the interview.
With Ala Bolelo bringing her dance performance to a wider audience, the actor’s latest appearance adds another milestone to a career shaped by regional cinema and her longstanding connection with dance.
While comparisons with Tamannaah Bhatia are part of the conversation surrounding the song, Shamna’s account highlights a different perspective: the importance of finding a performance style that suits the individual artist, while embracing opportunities that can introduce their work to new audiences.
