Overview

• Jayan received the Asia New Talent best actress award at the 2025 Shanghai International Film Festival for her role as a struggling beautician in Victoria.
• Victoria, directed by debutant Sivaranjini J, was the only Indian film competing at this year’s festival.
• The film was financed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation under its Women Empowerment Grant and previously premiered at the International Film Festival of Kerala, earning a FIPRESCI award.
• To prepare for the role, Jayan spent two months working in a local Angamaly beauty parlour and trained with a dialect coach to master the regional Malayalam accent.
• In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to women who have been told they were “too much,” reinforcing the film’s empowerment message.