Sohum Shah, the lead of Tumbbad and Maharani, explains why he decided to produce films. During his recent visit to Delhi, he shared, “Cinema ki ye khaas baat hai ki cinema rahega. Itni aafat aayi - piracy, satellite, OTT sab aa gaya, lekin cinema phir bhi hai. The community-watching experience of cinema cannot be replicated. I will always release my films in cinemas. After all, watching a film in a cinema is where it all started for me.” Excerpts from the conversation.

‘Meri jitni education hui hai, woh cinema se hui hai’
Talking about the impact films had on him and how they shaped his understanding of relationships and life, he says, "Mujhe nahi pata aisi film hoti hai toh aise bhai hote hain ya aise bhai hote hain toh aisi film hoti hai. Hum Aapke Hain Koun! dekh ke mujhe laga rishte aise hone chahiye. Mere bhi ek bade bhai thay, toh mujhe itna pyaar ho gaya unse. Hamari relationship itni majboot ho gayi.”

Sohum says that in the 90s', travelling to foreign country felt like something unimaginable to him.
He says, "Log panditji ko patri dikha ke puchhte thay videsh yatra ka yog hai kya? Dilwale Duhania Le Jayenge showed me how Europe is, those leather jackets, and that people drink beer in cans. It was a fascinating world. Meri jitni education hui hai, woh cinema se hui hai, aur Aamir Khan saheb mere guru rahe hain."

‘Mujhe OTT ke mercy pe nahi rehna hai’
Sohum says that as a producer, he will never choose to release a film on OTT when he can release it in theatres. He explains, "Mera ye hai ki mujhe OTT ke mercy pe nahi rehna hai. Main wohi filmein banaunga (the kind of films I want to be a part of) aur theatre mein lagaunga. Chalegi toh theek hai, nahi chalegi toh theek hai! Main meri property bech dunga, woh mujhe chalega, lekin mujhe OTT ke mercy pe nahi rehna hai."

What’s behind this love for releasing films in theatres?
He says, "Theatres are the seed that helped us reach this point. We watched those films and had the entire experience of watching them. When we watched films like Hum, I still remember the impact those dialogues had on us. I still remember all those lines."

Enacting a scene from Hum, where Amitabh Bachchan’s character screams Bakhtawar, Sohum asks, "Woh experience kaise laptop pe ya TV pe shift ho sakta hai? Jo shuruaat hui hai, cinema se hi shuruaat hui hai. Woh hamare conscious nahi, subconscious mind mein hai. Hamare blood mein hai!"

‘Tumbbad is my Mughal-e-Azam’
Sohum says that, according to him, Tumbbad is their Mughal-e-Azam. He explains, "Like we’ve heard so many stories about Mughal-e-Azam - that the diamonds were real and how the film was made with so much passion and love and took so long. In the same way, the bus you see in Tumbbad is an actual bus from the 1930s, the locks, the gates, the cinematography. If we missed one monsoon, we’d have to wait another year for rain. We did VFX in Sweden and background work in America. Humne bahut shiddat aur pyaar se banayi hai.”

He says that before they started shooting Tumbbad, there were already over five years of work behind it in terms of locations and sketchboards. "When I heard the script, I always had this trust that the film would reach somewhere. I had this trust because I felt the film was strong and unique."

Sohum elaborates, "Jo maine uss waqt socha tha ki filmon ka ek universe (prequels, sequels) ho sakta hai, woh ab ho raha hai."

Talking about the core of the story, he says, "We all know that greed is bad. But somewhere, we are all consumed by greed. And greed, not just in terms of money, but also jobs, cars, followers, validation- in all aspects, it's greed. If one takes a step back, they'd realize that most of us operate out of greed, and hence, the story of Tumbbad about greed becomes quite relevant."

‘Iss industry mein achha kaam karne wale log hi 8-10 hain’
He shares, "I never wanted to be a producer, I had no interest in becoming one. But the kind of films I want to act in, those films weren’t being made. Achha kaam ho nahi raha hai, iss industry mein achha kaam karne wale log hi 8-10 hain, baaki sab mediocre kaam ho raha hai. So, what do I do? When I don’t get good work, I felt like - all right, then I will make the kind of films I want to work in."

"Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots has had a huge impact on the lives of many people. I’d like to share an incident - once, I went to a doctor who told me she was in depression, but when she watched a Shah Rukh Khan film in the cinema, it helped her sail through. Cinema and stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan have contributed to pop culture in a huge way."

Sohum says that being both a producer and actor helps him understand each role better. He explains, "I don’t like holidays, I don’t like to travel, I don’t want to do anything but work - whether I’m acting or producing. I don’t know how to compartmentalize; balancing is a problem for me. I live in extremes. Mera sab kuch ek hai - actor-producer, sab ek hai."

Sonakshi Sinha says her closest friends are not from the film world, and this gives her a different perspective
Radhika Bhirani (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 17, 2020)

Actor Sonakshi Sinha has steered clear of “fake friendships” in her decade-long journey in filmdom. And she says some of her closest friends happen to be those outside the industry.

Ask her if friendships are hard to come by in the film world, Sinha tells us, “Well, I wouldn’t say they are hard to have in the industry. But yes, true friendships are rare because we just live such fast-paced lives and we’re moving from one project to another... so it gets really difficult to try and keep in touch sometimes.”

Having said that, the 32-year-old asserts that she has made some “really good friends” in her decade-long career. “I’m on very good terms with every actor and director I have worked with. I think they [friends] are hard to come by, but it’s difficult to keep,” she says.

On those who are part of her close circle, Sinha adds, “They are those who I’ve grown up with since school and college. And I like that. I like having people on the outside who can give me a different perspective to what I’m doing and what’s happening.”

The actor’s work slate includes some interesting projects. While she is ready to make her web series foray, Sinha will also be a part of Bhuj: The Pride of India, which will be the first time she will be seen in a biopic.

She is glad how the web space offered her a great role, in a crime thriller. “It has been a while since something so challenging has come by, and it’s very new and refreshing. I’m really happy to be a part of a project like this with such talented actors such as Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Varma, Sohum Shah,” adds Sinha.

As for Bhuj: The Pride of India, the actor describes it as “a beautiful and an amazing story about the war in 1971”. Further on her role, she says, “I’m playing the role of Sunderben Jetha Madharpariya, who got together women from a village and built a runway overnight so that an IAF plane could land on it... It’s a wonderful film and again nothing like what I’ve done before.”

Making his web debut with Fallen, actor Sohum Shah says the opportunity to work with Reema Kagti drew him to the series
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 3, 2020)

Though his breakthrough role came with Anand Gandhi's Ship of Theseus, Sohum Shah grabbed eyeballs with the fantasy drama Tumbbad, a cautionary tale about the cycle of greed. As Shah kickstarts the shoot of the gritty Amazon Prime show Fallen helmed by Reema Kagti, he walks us through how he developed the weave and weft of the character.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

What made you come on board Fallen?
I liked the script so much that I finished reading it in one go. My character [of a cop] is an earthy small-town guy. Since I hail from a small town, it was relatable and gave me an opportunity to portray that side of my personality. Finally, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti are producing the show, so that was the cherry on top.

This is your first collaboration with Reema Kagti. What was your first meeting with her like?
I am an admirer of Reema's work, particularly Talaash [2012]. She has always been on the list of directors whom I wanted to work with. When I met her [to discuss the show], I immediately realised that she would be a treat to work with. We had a long discussion about my scenes and character graph, and she was open to [new ideas]. While shooting, whenever I have an idea, I do not hesitate to discuss it with her. She will always listen to my ideas first, share her views, and if there is discrepancy, she is ready to talk about it until we reach a common ground. It is a privilege to have that kind of space as an actor.

Discuss your prep for the role.
Besides doing reading sessions with the director and the cast, I did some personal workshops to get into the character. I also visited police stations, and met police officers to study their mannerism, characteristics, and their style of working.

The series has an eclectic cast that includes Sonakshi Sinha, Vijay Varma and Gulshan Devaiah. That must be another incentive to come on board.
I went to the set of Fallen right after wrapping up my portions in The Big Bull [film with Abhishek Bachchan]. I did a few reading sessions with my co-actors, and because of them, I got a grasp of my character quickly. After all, acting is all about reacting. So, whenever you work with good actors, it is beneficial. I still remember working with Irrfan sir in Talvar [2015]; it was enlightening because I learnt a lot from him. Currently, I'm shooting with Gulshan and Sonakshi. They are seasoned actors and bring their experience to the table. Vijay will join the rest of the cast soon.

Now that you are a producer as well, what is the yardstick of choosing your acting projects?
I [decide on the basis of] the script and my character. If I have a clear understanding of the script, my character and the director's vision, I don't hesitate to accept the role.

As he joins Abhishek Bachchan in stock market drama The Big Bull, Sohum Shah on juggling acting and production
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 26, 2019)

For Sohum Shah, giving his nod to The Big Bull was an easy decision. The actor says it was evident that the Abhishek Bachchan-fronted film — despite being set in the big, bad world of stocks and shares — is an "entertaining and engaging" fare. The actor plays a stockbroker in the finance drama that is reportedly based on Harshad Mehta. Ask him if his sensibilities as a producer play a role while greenlighting acting assignments, and Shah explains, "I try to see if the script offers something new to me as an actor. But most importantly, it should work [at the story level]. I try to gauge if I’m enjoying the script as an audience."

Having recently wrapped up the Delhi schedule of the Kookie Gulati-directed venture, he heaps praises on co-star Bachchan as he says, "Abhishek is focused when it comes to his work." While he is enjoying his time in front of the camera, Shah intends to resume his producer duties for his passion project, Tumbbad (2018). "We want to make a prequel or sequel of Tumbbad, but we haven’t cracked the story yet. We always wanted to make it as a franchise."

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2019)

The year 2018 was about blockbuster films, like Badhaai Ho, AndhaDhun, Baaghi 2 and Simmba, and Sohum Shah’s widely acclaimed Tumbbad. The horror-drama went on to receive eight nominations at the 64th Filmfare Awards and won three, for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Sound Design. “The response to Tumbbad has been overwhelming. I got a text from someone who has seen it 52 times which makes the seven years spent on making it seem worthwhile today. But many on social media have also expressed their regret at not watching it on the big screen,” shares the actor-filmmaker who on October 12 will have a screening for a select few to celebrate one year of the film’s release.

The film was reportedly under consideration as India’s official entry to the Oscars last year. Eventually, Rima Das’s Village Rockstars made the cut. Any regrets? “I stand by the film’s message that greed has no limits. Every film has its own destiny and I am content with the love that Tumbbad receives even today,” he asserts, recalling that after its premiere in the Critics’ Week at Venice International Film Festival, one of the reviews stated that “Tumbbad looks like a universe that God created and forgot to put on the human map”. “That meant a lot to me,” he smiles, revealing that the film’s team is now exploring the idea of making a sequel or a prequel, but hasn’t cracked a story yet.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; July 14, 2019)

He got rave reviews for his performance in the critically acclaimed Tumbbad, a period horror film. Now, actor-producer Sohum Shah is gearing up for a love story. We hear he’s doing a short film titled Gulabi Lens, in which he will be romancing model-turned-actress Anushka Ranjan. Says a source close to the development, “Gulabi Lens is a love story that revolves around a married couple, who is trying to settle into a house in a new city soon after their marriage.”

This is the first time Sohum will be paired opposite Anushka, last seen in Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018). Apart from this, the Ship Of Theseus actor recently also finished filming Pawan Kriplani and Abhishek Chaubey’s untitled short film also starring Kirti Kulhari.