‘Tumbbad’ fame actor and filmmaker Sohum Shah is specifically excited for two of the biggest projects Indian cinema has to offer in a couple of months. He recently expressed his enthusiasm for SS Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’ and Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’ and shared his views on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking and explained why he continues to prefer practical sets and real locations for his own projects.In a conversation with Variety India, Sohum Shah said he is looking forward to watching both films, although his reasons for being excited about them are different.
Sohum Shah is excited about ‘Varanasi’ and ‘Ramayana’
“I am excited about ‘Varanasi’ because I really like Rajamouli sir as a filmmaker. I am excited about ‘Ramayana’ as well, but I already know the story of ‘Ramayana.’ I have watched it and read it,” he said.The actor is particularly curious about ‘Varanasi’ because he wants to discover the world Rajamouli has created and the surprises the story holds. “I don’t know what ‘Varanasi’ is about, what the surprises will be or what kind of new world he is going to show us,” he said.Speaking about ‘Ramayana’, Shah praised Ranbir Kapoor’s work and said he was interested in seeing the actor portray Lord Rama. He also mentioned that the film has been made on a large scale, with the makers aiming to reach audiences across the world.He said, “I am excited about ‘Ramayana’ because I really like Ranbir’s work, and he is playing Lord Ram in the film. We will have to see how everything turns out, but they have made the film on a very large scale. I think they want to take it to the whole world.”
Sohum Shah shares his views on AI in filmmaking
Sohum Shah believes AI can create opportunities for people who have stories to tell but lack the resources to make a film through conventional methods. He does not see AI as a threat to cinema. Instead, he believes filmmakers should choose the tools that best suit their stories and creative vision.
Sohum Shah believes storytelling matters most
Shah’s own approach to filmmaking relies heavily on practical sets, real locations and prosthetics, with CGI and visual effects used only when necessary. Recalling the making of the first ‘Tumbbad’, he explained that the production created much of the film’s unsettling world through physical environments. He plans to follow a similar approach for ‘Tumbbad 2’.“Definitely, in ‘Tumbbad 2,’ we will use VFX or CGI only where it is required. Otherwise, we have shot at real locations or built sets,” he said.Shah further added that his preference for practical filmmaking does not mean he opposes technological innovation. “The medium can be anything. You can tell a story through AI, through VFX, by building sets or by going to real locations. You should use whatever works for you,” he said.Speaking about the sequel, ‘Tumbbad 2’ reprises Sohum Shah’s role as Vinayak Rao with Alia Bhatt and Nawazuddin Siddiqui joining as the new faces.