The many faces of Sohum Shah

Actor and producer Sohum Shah has come a long way since his first acting gig in Ship of Theseus (2013). His latest project, Tumbbad (released last Friday), has been a part of several film festivals this year, has garnered positive reviews, and is being hailed as a visionary film.

With four films and a National Award under his belt, Sohum is well on his way to mastering the art of playing complex characters. He played a stockbroker in Ship of Theseus, a police officer in Talvar (2015) and portrayed a boy-next-door in Simran (2017). His latest conquest has him playing the role of a greedy adventurer in Tumbbad.

Sohum, who hails from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, used to watch a lot of films as a child and dreamt of traveling abroad. Little did he know that years later, he would receive critical appreciation for his work at various international film festivals. When asked about his experience, the actor says, “It’s truly overwhelming for me to get this kind of response from everyone. It’s encouraging and an extremely emotional moment for me to be a part of movies.”

According to trade estimates, Tumbbad has already raked in ` 65 lakhs on its first day and saw encouraging growth on its second day, bringing in about ` 1.15 cr. Trade analyst Taran Aadarsh wrote on his social media handle: “#Tumbbad witnesses an upward trend on Day 2... Growth on Day 2 [vis-à-vis Day 1]: 76.92%... Day 3 should be better... Fri 65 lakhs, Sat 1.15 cr. Total: ` 1.80 cr. India biz.”

Said to be a unique concoction of mythology, fantasy and a thriller, the film has had audiences on the edge of their seats and has left everyone with a spine-chilling experience. The ambitious project has been a roller coaster ride for Sohum, and film-maker Aanand L Rai has described it as a genre-defining film.

It’s truly overwhelming for me to get this kind of response from everyone. It’s an encouraging and emotional moment for me.

SOHUM SHAH, ACTOR

PHOTO: HTCS Sohum Shah