Shamna Kasim, also known by her stage name Poorna is an Indian actress, dancer, and model, who appears in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films.
Early life
She was born in Kannur to a Malayalee couple Kasim and Ramla. She has done her schooling from St. Teresas Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School in Kannur after shifting from Ursuline Senior Secondary School. She shifted her school to concentrate more on her dancing skills.തെന്നിന്ത്യയുടെ പൂർണയായി മലയാളത്തിന്റെ സ്വന്തം ഷംന കാസിം | മലയാളം ഇ മാഗസിൻ.കോം . Malayalam Online magazine (12 January 2013).
She resides in Kochi, Kerala.
Career
2004–2011: Early struggle
She made her acting debut in the 2004 Malayalam film Manju Poloru Penkutty. She played her first major role in her debut Telugu film Sri Mahalakshmi (2007), while playing the lead female character in her first Tamil film, Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu (2008).
Her biggest hit came with Jhossh (2009), a Kannada movie that completed 100 days in the theatres. She has starred in several Tamil films including Kodaikanal (2008), Kandhakottai (2009), Drohi (2010), Aadu Puli (2011), Vellore Maavattam (2011) and Vithagan (2011).
2012–2016: Experimental roles and television
She is best known for her Malayalam movies Chattakkari (2012), Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha (2013) and Mili (2015).
Kasim appeared in a series of films where she portrayed a ghost, with The Hindu labelling her as "the ghost queen of South films".Search for variety: Poorna. The Hindu (21 November 2015). Retrieved 30 December 2015. She essayed the lead role in Avunu (2012) and the sequel Avunu 2 (2015) that were successful at the box office. In this brief period of time, she turned down several similar scripts, before acting as a ghost again in Raju Gari Gadhi (2015), which became a hit at the box office.
She extended her appearance from silver screen to numerous Television projects in Telugu and Malayalam, particularly as a Judge in dance reality shows that bought her closer to the audiences. In 2016, she was cast in Telugu comedy Jayammu Nischayammu Raa.
2017–present Shamna shaved her head completely bald for her role in the Kodiveeran (2017), but the movie met with average reviews.
She has also done a lot of Malayalam films like Madhura Raja (2019), Maarconi Mathaai (2019) and Telugu films Akhanda (2021), Drushyam 2 (2021), Dasara (2023) as well. In 2024, she appeared in Tamil horror thriller, Devil.
Poorna had a solo release in 2025 reprising her role from Akhanda in its sequel, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam. After her viral performance in the chartbuster Kurchi Madathapetti song, in 2026, she is all set to feature in another chartbuster alongside Superstar Rajinikanth in Jailer 2.
Personal life In June 2020, police arrested members of a gang on a complaint lodged by Shamna's mother that they blackmailed her daughter. Police revealed that the gang locked film actresses in hotel rooms and forced them to accompany as escorts for transporting black money. Shamna married Shanid Asif Ali, a Dubai-based businessman in October 2022, and they have two children: a son and a daughter.
Filmography Film + List of Shamna Kasim / Poorna film credits Year Title Role Language Notes 2004 Manju Poloru Penkutty Dhanya Malayalam 2005 Hridayathil Sookshikkan Model Junior Senior 2006 Pachakuthira Raji Bhargavacharitham Moonam Khandam Radhika Ennittum Student 2007 Sri Mahalakshmi Sri Mahalakshmi Telugu Ali Bhai Kingini Malayalam Flash Machi 2008 College Kumaran Sreekutti Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu Madhumitha Tamil Kodaikanal Brinda 2009 Kandhakottai Pooja Jhossh Meena Kannada 2010 Drohi Malar Tamil 9 KK Road Rosemary Malayalam 2011 Aadu Puli Anjali Thillainayagam Tamil Seema Tapakai Sathya Telugu Makaramanju model Malayalam Vellore Maavattam Priya Tamil Vithagan Mercy 2012 Chattakaari Julie Malayalam Avunu Mohini Telugu 2013 Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Meena Sreekumar Malayalam Radhan Ganda Radha Kannada Jannal Oram Nirmala David Tamil Thagaraaru Meenakshi 2014 Laddu Babu Maya Telugu Nuvvala Nenila Mahalakshmi Rajadhi Raja Dancer Malayalam Item Dance in Song "Dhan Than "2015 Mili Renuka Avunu 2 Mohini Telugu Sakalakala Vallavan Dancer Tamil Special appearance Srimanthudu Dancer Telugu Rajugari Gadhi Bommali Mama Manchu Alludu Kanchu Shruthi Naidu 2016 Jayammu Nischayammu Raa Rani Manal Kayiru 2 Nisha Tamil 2017 Kodiveeran Velu 2018Savarakathi Subhadra Tamil Oru Kuttanadan Blog S.I Neena Malayalam Aanakkallan Rosy Thomas Evanukku Engeyo Matcham Irukku S.I Geetha Tamil Adanga Maru Subash's lawyer Silly Fellows Krishnaveni Telugu 2019Madhura Raja Amala Malayalam Marconi Mathai Treesa Kaappaan Priya Joseph Tamil 2020 Lock Up Malliga Tamil Released on ZEE5 2021 Power Play Poorna Telugu SundariSundari Thalaivi V. K. Sasikala TamilHindi 100 Anagha Kannada Akhanda Padmavathi Telugu , SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu Drushyam 2 Adv. Renuka Amazon Prime Video release2022 Visithiran Stella Tamil Tees Maar Khan Vasudha Telugu 2023 Suvarna Sundari Anjali Dasara Vadhinamma Ala Ila Ela Anu AsaluVandana2024 Devil Hema Tamil Guntur Kaaram Ramola Telugu Special appearance in the song "Kurchi Madathapetti" Bhimaa Kali Oru Thee Anu Tamil Released on Thanthi One 2025 Akhanda 2: Thaandavam Padmavathi IAS Telugu 2026 Jailer 2 Dancer Tamil Special appearance in the song "Ala Bolelo"
Television + List of Poorna television credits Year Title Role Language Network 2020 Kannamoochi Priya Tamil ZEE52021 Navarasa Lakshmi Netflix 3 Roses Indu Telugu Aha
Television shows + List of Poorna television show credits Year Title Role Channel Language Notes2019, 2021 Sixth Sense (game show)Participant Star Maa TeluguGame show2021Udan PanamContestantMazhavil ManoramaMalayalamNot specific Dhee Telugu (Dance show)Judge ETV TeluguDance show
References
External links