Sohum Shah explains Tumbbad 2’s five-year writing process

The screenplay came before the sequel

Sohum Shah has described the lengthy writing process behind Tumbbad 2, saying he spent five years developing its screenplay. NDTV and The Times of India published coverage of his Variety India interview on Tuesday.

The actor-producer said the original film’s popularity was not, by itself, enough reason to make another instalment. He wanted an idea that made him feel he was creating a different film, with an unconventional story worth returning to the world for.

What Shah says audiences can expect

Asked about the sequel, Shah described something new and unpredictable and said it would contain multiple surprises. Those are the filmmaker’s expectations for his project, rather than an independent assessment of a film that has not yet been released.

He did not set out those surprises or provide a detailed account of the plot. The interview therefore offers an explanation of his creative approach without establishing which characters, incidents or twists will appear.

The Times of India also reports his recollections of making the original Tumbbad. Shah described a process involving rewrites and filming over several years, with substantial writing by Rahi Anil Barve before production began. He uses that history to explain why developing a screenplay requires patience.

The team and the reported release plan

Adesh Prasad directs Tumbbad 2, with Alia Bhatt and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in key roles. NDTV identifies Sohum Shah Films, in association with Pen Studios, behind the production, and Pen Marudhar as distributor.

The reports point to December 3, 2027 as the intended theatrical date. This interview does not announce a new date, a finished film or a trailer launch. It concerns the writing effort and the kind of experience Shah hopes the sequel will offer.

For followers of the franchise, the useful distinction is between confirmed production credits and the filmmaker’s promises. The former identify the team; the latter will only be tested when audiences see the completed film.