Actor-Producer Sohum Shah Opens Up On How Tumbbad Took A Mental Toll On Him

Tumbbad, the 2018 horror-thriller led by Sohum Shah re-released in the theatres on Friday, September 13. Almost six years ago, when the film was first released, it received critical acclaim and fans’ love. The making of Tumbbad, however, took a mental toll on the movie’s actor-producer Sohum Shah. During a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia on his podcast, Sohum revealed that the process was so exhausting that he almost decided to give up producing films.

Sohum said, “Iss film ke dauharan mein itna thak gya thha. Ajay-Atul ne film ka ek gana kiya thha. Main unke paas baitha huun, woh gaan bana rahe hai, koi baat chal padhi aur mei rone lag gya. Maine kaha ‘yaar mai kasam khata huun, dobara kabhi film produce nahi karunga.’ (During this film, I was so tired. Ajay-Atul composed a song for the movie. I was sitting near him, they were making a song, there was some discussion and I started crying. I said, ‘I swear to never to produce a film again’)."

Sohum added, “Itna thak gaya na, ki aap kisise mil rahe ho release ke liye, aap apne ideas push kar rahe ho, aap logon tak film banana chahte ho aur itna thaka deta hai woh process toh mai rone laga. Toh unhone mujhe chai pilaya, paranthe khilaya aur bola ki ‘Sab thik ho jayega’. Toh ho gya, uske baad phir mei produce karne laaga, kanhi ruka nahi. (I got so tired, that you are meeting someone for the release, you are pushing your ideas, you want to make a film for the people. And that process wears you down so much, that I started crying. So they gave me tea, offered paranthas and said, ‘Everything will be fine’. So it happened and then I started producing again. I did not stop.)"

Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, Tumbbad received eight nominations at the 64th Filmfare Awards winning three trophies for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Sound Design. It was the first Indian film to be screened at the 75th Venice International Film Festival for the Critics’ Week section.

Tumbbad also featured Dhundiraj Prabhakar Jogalekar, Jyoti Malshe, Madhav Hari, Harsh K, Piyush Kaushik and Rudra Soni in crucial roles. The film was collaboratively produced by Sohum Shah Films, Eros International, Colour Yellow Productions, Filmgate Films and Film i Vast.