When NBC’s Chicago P.D. returns for its thirteenth season, fans will be introduced to a fresh face in the Intelligence Unit: Eve Imani, played by Arienne Mandi. While stepping into a long-running procedural drama could be intimidating for any newcomer, Mandi has revealed that a surprising off-screen connection eased her transition — her co-star Benjamin Levy Aguilar, who plays Officer Dante Torres.
In a recent interview with NBC, Mandi shared that she and Aguilar go way back. The two first crossed paths in Los Angeles in 2020, where they trained together in Jiu-jitsu. Their time on the mats, she explained, forged a sense of trust and camaraderie that has now carried over to their work on Chicago P.D..
“It’s funny how life works out,” Mandi said. “When I joined the show, knowing that Benji was already there gave me this immediate sense of comfort. We weren’t strangers. We already had this shared history of pushing each other and respecting each other in training. That really made it feel like I had someone familiar by my side.”
Aguilar, who has played Torres since Season 9, has quickly become one of the show’s central figures. His character’s storylines have consistently pushed the boundaries of loyalty and morality, making him a standout addition to the Intelligence Unit. Having a personal bond with Mandi before she joined the cast only adds another layer of depth to their on-screen partnership in Season 13.
Mandi described her early days on set as a mix of excitement and nerves, acknowledging the challenge of joining a show with such a devoted fanbase and established ensemble. But she credited Aguilar with helping her feel at ease. “Walking onto a set like Chicago P.D. can feel overwhelming. It’s a well-oiled machine with actors who have worked together for years,” she said. “But seeing Benji there — someone I already knew, someone who welcomed me with open arms — made all the difference. It was like having a teammate in my corner.”
The actress also noted that their shared background in martial arts brings an unexpected energy to their work. “There’s a discipline in Jiu-jitsu that translates to acting,” Mandi reflected. “It’s about presence, resilience, and trust. Benji and I had already built that dynamic before the show, and now we get to explore it in a completely new way through our characters.”
With Mandi’s Eve Imani teaming up with Voight (Jason Beghe) and interacting closely with Torres in Season 13, fans can expect sparks of both tension and collaboration. While her character is new to the Intelligence Unit, the real-life bond between Mandi and Aguilar could add authenticity to their scenes together — a subtle layer of familiarity that sharp-eyed viewers may pick up on.
As Chicago P.D. continues to expand its world and test its characters in bold new directions, the arrival of Arienne Mandi signals both change and continuity. For Mandi, joining the series didn’t just mean stepping into a new role — it meant reuniting with an old training partner, now turned colleague, in one of network television’s most enduring crime dramas.
