Sohum Shah has described how Alia Bhatt came aboard Tumbbad 2 with unusual speed: a narration, a script read, a follow-up meeting, and the deal was done. Speaking to Variety India, the actor-producer said the process was far simpler than casting conversations usually are.
A fast yes built on a careful read
Shah recalled that Bhatt heard the story, read the screenplay within two or three days, and returned for the second meeting ready to sign. He said she asked pointed questions about the project’s shape and potential, though he did not remember the exact questions.
“She is very sharp. As good an artiste as she is, I think her business sense is equally good… Alia Bhatt was signed in just two meetings!”
He added that such a quick decision is uncommon in his experience, and credited her ability to judge what the script held and what it did not.
Why the casting matters
The original Tumbbad (2018) completes eight years on 12 October 2026, and the sequel returns to that dark fantasy world. Shah said Bhatt already liked the original and shared a similar understanding of the film, which is often discussed mainly for its horror mood rather than its full weight.
He did not reveal details of her role, but said the character contributes substantially and called it “very correct casting.” The decision, he suggested, will make sense to viewers once the film is out.
For Hindi cinema watchers, the speed of the decision is the real headline. A leading actor committing to a fantasy-horror sequel after two meetings suggests confidence in the screenplay and in Shah’s plan for the franchise. The original completes eight years on 12 October 2026, and the sequel is scheduled for 3 December 2027—nearly a decade after the first film.
What is known about the sequel
Production details remain sparse, but the makers have confirmed the following:
- Director: Adesh Prasad
- Release date: 3 December 2027
- Cast: Sohum Shah, Alia Bhatt, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Diorr Varghese
- Production start: Mahurat ceremony on 7 April 2026
- Tagline: “Pralay Aayega” — “The apocalypse will come”
Shah’s comments arrive as the original completes eight years, a useful moment for audiences revisiting the first film. The sequel is still close to a year and a half away, so the casting detail gives a concrete reason to keep the project on the calendar.
Source: The Times of India
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