Shobana acted for the first time in a leading role in the Malayalam motion picture April 18 in 1984, directed by Balachandra Menon. She also acted alongside the Malayalam actor Mammootty in the film Kanamarayathu (1984). Shobhana became a leading heroine simultaneously in Telugu film industry. She has to her credit to be the first heroine opposite super star Nagarjuna Akkineni when he was introduced to the industry through a hit film “vikram”.[