Sonia Behera Age, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sonia Behera

• In 2015, Sonia Behera attended a school function as an audience in Belpahar.

• She watched the stage performance of Lal Paen by the Mirror Theatre Group in Jharsuguda.

• The performance reportedly left a lasting impression on her. It motivated her to join the group later that year.

• Sonia Behera then decided to pursue a career in theatre.

• After that, she was featured in various productions of many theatre groups, such as Lal Paen, ULPI, April-27, Badakha Dada, Pachen, Ramadevi, Tor Jhumka, Tor Kiriya, Bhokara Aneka Ranga, and Panata Kani.

• Sonia Behera later played the lead role in Kaenjuri, a play that made a world record by performing continuously for 49 hours, 48 minutes, and 12 seconds.

• Her work with the groups ULPI and Lal Paen, organised in Odisha and other parts of India, also gave her national recognition.
  

  Sonia Behera while rehearsing for a theatre play

• Once, during a media talk she stated that her mother encouraged her to continue working in theatre, even though she knew that it was an uncertain career.

• On 25 June 2026, Sonia Behera became the first woman from Odisha, who secured admission to the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, to pursue a three-year Diploma in Dramatics program.

• She appeared in the NSD entrance exam and secured 80.05 percentile. She cleared a multi-stage selection process.

• Sonia Behera secured the eighth rank in All India merit list of NSD.

• She cleared the selection process of the NSD, which included a initial screening test, theatre workshops, practical exercises, and personal interviews.

• The selection process held at the NSD campus in New Delhi from 14 June 2026 to 19 June 2026.

• After her selection to the NSD, Sonia Behera stated in a media talk that when she started doing theatre, she never imagined that she would get enrolled to the National School of Drama. She said,
  

  I feel very proud. When I started doing theatre, I had never imagined that I would one day make it to NSD. It still feels unreal.”

  Sonia Behera added that she was happy to be a part of the school that produced stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. She said

  I am happy to have got the opportunity to study at an institution where stars were born. Legends like Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Odisha’s own Bijay Mohanty and Ajit Das were trained at NSD.”

  

  Sonia Behera while rehearsing for a theatre play

• She said that she hoped her journey encourage young artists from small towns to believe that they could also get opportunities at national institutions if they stay dedicated to their art.

• Sonia Behera then thanked the founder and director of the Mirror Theatre Dr. Subash Chandra Pradhan and her senior colleagues for their guidance and support. She said that they played an important role in shaping her career.

• Dr. Subash Chandra Pradhan then stated in the media that Sonia’s selection was a proud moment not only for Mirror Theatre but also for theatre artists across Odisha.

• He said that Sonia’s success proved that talented people from small towns can reach the highest level through hard work, dedication, and proper training.

• Pradhan said that Sonia’s achievement would inspire more young people, especially girls, to choose theatre as a professional career.