Oct 12, 2026 6:33pm IST
Sohum Shah on ‘Tumbbad 2’: ‘I Believe You Have Never Seen Anything Like It’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Eight years after "Tumbbad" first arrived in theatres, its cult following has only grown. Now, as Sohum Shah prepares to return to its unsettling world with "Tumbbad 2," he reflects on the original film’s difficult opening, the years spent writing the sequel, practical effects, and the stories that continue to inspire him. He also discusses the unpredictable spirit of Crazxy, the importance of writers, and why he believes audiences can expect the unexpected from the sequel.
Eight years after 'Tumbbad,' the big question is: why did the sequel take so long?
I believe writing needs time. It should simmer on a low flame. It took me a long time to crack this idea. You can find a story quite easily, but turning it into a screenplay takes a lot of time. I didn’t want to make a sequel just because "Tumbbad" received so much love. I needed to feel like I was making a different film. I needed to be excited by the thought that I was creating something new, something different, and something unconventional. It took me five years to write "Tumbbad 2," and that time was very important to me.
When did you realise 'Tumbbad' had found the audience it has today?
The film opened at the Venice Film Festival. The day after the screening, my brother and I were walking by the sea outside our hotel. He asked me, “Who is going to come and watch your film?” I told him, “No, the film will work. You wait and see.”
When the film was released and the first-day box-office numbers came in, it broke my heart. I called my brother and said, “I have failed. You were right.” I kept telling myself that things would work out and that this was a journey. But those two days were very difficult.
The film began picking up a little from the third or fourth day. The box-office numbers were fine, but people in the industry started reaching out, saying they had watched and loved the film. I realised it had developed a cult following during the pandemic. One day, "Tumbbad" was trending on Twitter for no apparent reason. I thought, “The film has reached people.”
I had already sensed that love through messages from people in the industry, including people I didn’t know. But when audiences discovered it during COVID and it began trending repeatedly, I knew it had reached them.
After the industry began responding to 'Tumbbad,' did anyone suggest making a sequel?
At most, it meant getting a business card and arranging a meeting with someone. As for "Tumbbad 2," I didn’t have a story then. Some people wanted to make it, but I didn’t have a story. What would I make? I had other films I wanted to make.
I think it would have been very difficult to make "Tumbbad 2" if the original had not been re-released. The re-release brought in box-office numbers. The industry does not really care how cult a film is or how critically acclaimed it may be. Box-office numbers matter, and "Tumbbad" delivered those numbers when it was re-released.
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How long did it take to write the original 'Tumbbad' script?
We started "Tumbbad" in 2012. There were rewrites, which took about a year and a half. We kept shooting until 2015, and we did a lot of rewriting during that period. Rahi (Rahi Anil Barve, the co-writer and co-director) had already done a great deal of writing before 2012, so he had spent quite a lot of time on it. After that, it probably took another two years.
What can audiences expect from 'Tumbbad 2,' beyond a bigger scale?
They can expect to see something new and unpredictable. When "Tumbbad" came out, I told people they would see something new. The same goes for "Tumbbad 2." You may think you know this world, but it will surprise you. That is the one thing I can say.
Everyone loves a good surprise.
Yes, it is a very good surprise.
How many surprises are we talking about?
The ending... it is not the ending! There are multiple surprises.
What was the most difficult part of shooting the first film, especially the scenes revealing Hastar’s body, face and movement without green screens or extensive technology?
We shot Hastar using prosthetics in "Tumbbad." There was no green screen. We built sets for everything and shot him in prosthetics, but that version of Hastar didn’t work, so we replaced him with a CG version.
We originally imagined Dadi weighing 500 kilos because she was supposed to be very large, but the performer couldn’t walk in the prosthetics, so we had to change the design. Things like that happened. But we filmed everything either at real locations or on sets.
Will 'Tumbbad 2' also rely on real sets and use CG only when necessary?
Definitely. In "Tumbbad 2," we will use VFX or CG only when necessary. Otherwise, we have shot at real locations or built sets.
As a producer and actor, I want to build as many sets as possible for the films I make in the future. There are intangible benefits that you cannot measure. An actor’s performance changes, and as a director, you understand much more. The drama and the nuances change.
Can you hint at any Easter eggs, returning characters or callbacks to the first film in 'Tumbbad 2'?
I cannot reveal much. The only thing I can say is: surprises, surprises, surprises! You will see something new. I am very excited about this film. I have given "Tumbbad 2" my blood, sweat, heart, and everything, even more than I did for "Tumbbad." The story is unique. I believe people haven’t seen anything like it.
Which is your favourite character, Hastar or Dadi?
I am very biased towards Dadi. I feel she has so many amazing layers.
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