Sonia Behera from Belpahar in Jharsuguda district has become the first girl from Odisha to secure admission to the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi.
She ranked 8th in the national merit list with 80.05 marks, earning a place in the three‑year Diploma in Dramatics (2026‑2029).
Associated with Mirror Theatre since 2015, Sonia has played lead roles in acclaimed productions such as Kaenjuri, Ulpi, Lal Paen, and Ramadevi. Her performance in Kaenjuri helped the play achieve a world record, while her roles in Ulpi and Lal Paen brought Mirror Theatre recognition at the national level.
She qualified after a rigorous selection process that included interviews, workshops, and final auditions held in New Delhi from June 14 to 19. Her achievement has drawn praise from theatre circles across Odisha. Dr Subash Chandra Pradhan, founder of Mirror Theatre, called it a “historic milestone” for Odisha’s theatre movement.
Sonia said she feels honoured to follow the path of NSD alumni like Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bijay Mohanty, and Ajit Das. She added that her success is a matter of pride for western Odisha and will inspire young theatre artists to showcase their talent nationally.
The Odisha NSD admission success story of Sonia Behera marks a turning point for the state’s cultural representation in India’s premier theatre institution.
