Grew up with 5 siblings, he sold his property for a film nobody watched at first. Now, Alia Bhatt joins the sequel

Alia Bhatt has officially joined Tumbbad 2, ending weeks of speculation around the much-awaited sequel to the 2018 cult horror film. Producer and actor Sohum Shah welcomed her to the franchise. As excitement builds around the sequel, many fans are revisiting the journey of Sohum Shah, whose path to filmmaking was anything but ordinary. Long before he became a producer and actor, he was a successful businessman from Rajasthan who took one of the biggest risks of his life to make Tumbbad.

From helping his father to building a successful business

Sohum Shah was born in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, and grew up as the youngest of five siblings. Life was simple, and luxury was never a part of his childhood. His father worked as a commodity broker and earned around Rs 3,000 a month during 1994-95.

Sohum has shared that there was no concept of pocket money in his family. Instead, he would carry lunch to his father's office after school and help him with work. Those early experiences taught him responsibility at a young age and shaped his work ethic.



Before films entered his life, Sohum established a flourishing real estate business in Rajasthan. He has often said that he built everything on his own and that cinema was never his source of livelihood.

Speaking to Forbes, Sohum said that when he first started making money, he did not even know the word "entrepreneur." His only goal was to earn well and build a successful life. However, after achieving financial success, he realised that beyond a certain point, money was simply a number. That realisation, which came around 2008, pushed him to look beyond business. He wanted to travel, experience life and chase the dream of becoming an actor.

The transition was not easy. Sohum explained that a businessman and an actor think in completely different ways. According to him, businessmen tend to analyse every situation logically, while acting is driven by emotions and instinct. He admitted that one of his biggest challenges was unlearning his business mindset so that he could fully embrace acting.

The gamble that changed Tumbbad forever

Sohum always wanted to become an actor, not a producer. However, he realised that the kind of stories he wanted to tell were not being made by others. Instead of waiting for someone else to back his vision, he decided to produce those films himself.

In an earlier interview, Sohum admitted that producing is often a thankless job, but he had a clear vision for the kind of cinema he wanted to create. He also said that films were like "true love" for him and that once someone enters the movie business, it demands everything they have.

That belief led to one of the boldest decisions of his career. Sohum spent nearly seven years developing Tumbbad and even sold his property to finance the film. Looking back, he has said he does not regret that decision because the film eventually proved to be a worthwhile investment.

When Tumbbad released in 2018, it struggled to attract audiences at the box office. Many viewers skipped the film during its theatrical run. However, its story did not end there.

Over the following years and after a re-release, Tumbbad found a new audience. Viewers praised its unique mix of Indian folklore, horror and mythology, transforming it into one of India's most celebrated cult films. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the finest horror movies made in the country.

Alia Bhatt joins Tumbbad 2

After weeks of speculation, Alia Bhatt has officially become part of Tumbbad 2. Sohum Shah confirmed the news by welcoming the actor to the franchise through social media.

Alia also shared why she wanted to join the project, saying that Tumbbad is one of those rare films that has continued to stay with audiences years after its release.

Speaking about the sequel in a press statement, Sohum said Tumbbad has always been a deeply personal project for him. He explained that the team wants to expand the world created in the first film by exploring its mythology and atmosphere in greater depth. At the same time, he said the sequel will retain the essence that audiences connected with while taking the story in a fresh direction.

Directed by Adesh Prasad, Tumbbad 2 is being produced under the banner of Sohum Shah Films in association with Pen Studios and will be distributed by Pen Marudhar. The sequel will also feature Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a key role, making it one of the most anticipated Indian films currently in development.