Anushka Sen is ready to cross another major milestone in her career as she prepares to make her Korean acting debut with Jeju Olle. The multilingual musical pairs the Indian actress with popular South Korean actor Kang Hyung-seok, making it one of the most anticipated India-Korea collaborations of the year. For Anushka, however, the project is much more than just an international film. She says it represents a dream that took nearly three years of patience, preparation and belief before finally becoming a reality.
The 23-year-old actress admitted that even after stepping onto the film’s set, it was difficult to believe the opportunity had finally arrived. She described the experience as both emotional and rewarding, especially because she had admired Korean entertainment for years before becoming a part of it herself. While the excitement was impossible to ignore, she says staying focused on the work remained her biggest priority throughout the shoot.
“Every day I would wake up thinking I was still dreaming”
Looking back at the filming experience, Anushka recalled how surreal the journey felt from the very beginning. She said, “Every day I would wake up thinking I was still dreaming. There was definitely a fan moment, but I had to be a thorough professional. I worked really hard because I had the responsibility of doing my best.” According to the actress, representing India on an international project made her even more determined to give her strongest performance.
Sharing the screen with Kang Hyung-seok made the experience even more memorable because she had followed his work long before joining the film. Speaking about meeting the Korean actor, Anushka said, “Working with Kang Hyung-seok was truly a dream come true because I’ve genuinely admired his work. I remember telling him on the very first day that I was a huge fan of his performances.” She added that despite being a fan, she quickly shifted her focus to maintaining professionalism once filming began.
Anushka believes the project carries significance beyond her own career. After being named the honorary ambassador for Korea Tourism in 2023, she has now become the first Indian artiste to make her debut in the Korean entertainment industry. Reflecting on that responsibility, she said, “Every time I get the opportunity to represent my country, I feel that responsibility. It’s not only about me doing my best, but also about representing my family and my people.” She hopes the collaboration will strengthen cultural ties while opening more doors for Indian performers internationally.
From watching K-dramas to starring in one
The actress revealed that her fascination with Korean dramas began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she started exploring the country’s television industry from home. She said the storytelling, emotional depth, music and cinematography left a lasting impression on her. Later, travelling to South Korea as the Korea Tourism ambassador allowed her to experience the culture first-hand, making her dream of working there feel even stronger. She credits those experiences with motivating her throughout the long journey toward her debut.
Anushka also shared that her mother was among the first people to believe she would one day work in a Korean production. Recalling those conversations, she said, “My mother and I would watch K-dramas together during the pandemic. She was the first person who said, ‘I would love to see you doing something like this one day.’ We would imagine me having those classic K-drama moments by the Han River. Looking back now, it feels surreal because this isn’t just my dream coming true, it was something my family believed in from the beginning.”
Jeju Olle will be released in English, Hindi and Korean, making it the first multilingual acting challenge of Anushka’s career. She explained that performing in three different languages pushed her outside her comfort zone but also taught her that emotion matters more than words. “There were three languages in the film, which made it completely different from anything I’d done before. I realised that acting isn’t about the language you’re speaking; it’s about the emotion you’re conveying. If the emotion is honest, audiences connect with you regardless of the language.” Learning Korean soon became one of her favourite parts of the production, and she added, “Everyone on set was teaching me something every day. I’d ask them how to pronounce words correctly, and that became one of my favourite parts of the experience.”
Away from the cameras, the cast bonded through food, language and shared curiosity about each other’s cultures. Anushka revealed that the team visited an Indian restaurant together, where her co-stars enjoyed naan, dal makhani and rasgullas while she helped them learn Hindi. In return, they introduced her to everyday Korean phrases and customs, making the experience feel like a genuine cultural exchange. She was also pleasantly surprised to discover how popular Indian cinema has become in South Korea, saying many of her Korean colleagues enthusiastically spoke about RRR, a moment that made her feel proud to represent Indian entertainment on an international stage.
