Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai, popularly known as Shobana, is an acclaimed Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. Born on March 21, 1970, in Trivandrum, Kerala, she belongs to the prestigious Travancore family, with legendary dancers Padmini, Lalitha, and Ragini as her aunts.

Shobana made her film debut in April 18 (1984) and quickly rose to prominence with her exceptional performances. She has acted in over 230 films across multiple languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English. Her portrayal in Manichitrathazhu (1993) won her the National Film Award for Best Actress, a feat she repeated with Mitr, My Friend (2001). She has also received Kerala State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards South for her outstanding contributions.

Apart from acting, Shobana is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, trained under Chitra Visweswaran and Padma Subrahmanyam. She founded Kalarpana, a dance school in Chennai, where she mentors aspiring dancers. Her performances have been showcased internationally, earning her widespread recognition.

In 2006, she was honored with the Padma Shri for her contributions to the arts, followed by the Kalaimamani Award in 2011 and the Padma Bhushan in 2025. Despite her illustrious career, she remains dedicated to her craft, balancing cinema and dance with grace.