A BASINGSTOKE student has landed her first big role in a star-studded Channel 4 period drama.

Ashna Rabheru spent two-and-a-half months in Malaysia for the filming of Indian Summers, in which she plays Shamshad, the younger sister of one of the main characters.

The 17-year-old, who is in her second year at Queen Mary’s College, auditioned for the role after being signed by Identity Agency Group, and beat other hopefuls to land the part.

Speaking about the programme, she said: “It’s a period drama set in India in 1932. I recently just got back from filming in Malaysia.”

The drama stars various top name actors, including BAFTA award winning Julie Walters, Harry Potter star Henry Lloyd-Hughes, City of Bones actress Jemima West, and Alexander Cobb, who appeared in Mr Selfridge.

Ashna, who lives with her parents and brother in Brighton Hill, said: “It was amazing working alongside them. I look up to a lot of them and they all helped me out and gave great advice.”

Indian Summers is set to air on Channel 4 in 2015, and tells the rich and explosive story of the decline of the British Empire and the birth of modern India, from both sides of the experience.

Ashna flew back and forth to Malaysia for filming, in between sitting her AS-level exams at QMC, in Cliddesden Road.

She said: “I really enjoyed the whole experience. I’ve learned so much and I would love to tell people about my recent success so I can inspire people in Basingstoke who have similar dreams as I do.”

Ashna now hopes to go to drama school after completing her A-levels, while continuing to audition for other roles.