The appreciation that Tillotama Shome got for the second season of Delhi Crime has been a long time coming, she believes. Two decades, to be precise. To the actor, who previously collaborated with director Tanuj Chopra on several short films, the Netflix crime drama is the perfect example of the kind of stories they want to tell.

“It was the validation of young dreamers, Tanuj and I, who dreamt together in our twenties about what we wanted to do. We finally did it in our forties,” says Shome, happy to have bagged a Best Supporting Actor: Series nomination at the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards. 

In the second instalment of Delhi Crime that revolves around a series of gruesome murders in Delhi, Shome’s Karishma is easily the most intriguing character. A beautician who closely witnesses the luxuries of the wealthy, Karishma resorts to violence to attain the life that otherwise seems out of her reach.

The idea, Shome says, was to understand her character’s motivations without judgment, thus humanising her. “What interested me was [understanding] why she does this. Did she have a choice? Our choices increase with our privilege. She did not want a child, but had no say in the matter. She was judged for leaving her child behind. It is not a crime to not be maternal, but our society makes it out to be. The yearning for a better life twists within her, and becomes a creature that needs expression. She does what needs to be done, to realize her dreams. You can judge her for it, but she does not care for your approval.”

Tillotama Shome has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actor (Female): Series category for Delhi Crime S02.

The other nominees are:

- Aishwarya Sushmita (Khakee: The Bihar Chapter)

- Bani J (Four More Shots Please S03)

- Neena Gupta (Panchayat S02)

- Rytasha Rathore (Masaba Masaba S02)

- Shilpa Shukla (Four More Shots Please S02)

There are 16 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.radiocity.in/hitlistott to cast your vote.

Voting lines close on February 22.