The Tumbbad universe just got a serious upgrade. After weeks of rumors, it’s official: Alia Bhatt is joining Tumbbad 2, starring alongside Sohum Shah and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Sohum Shah broke the news himself, posting a set of photos with Bhatt against that unmistakable red backdrop the franchise is known for. His caption: “A new chapter unfolds. Welcome to #Tumbbad2, @aliaabhatt #PralayAayega. See you in cinemas 03.12.2027.”
What’s her role, actually
Nobody’s spelling out the character yet. What’s floating around is that Bhatt’s part is a short but pivotal one, some reports are calling it a 20-day shoot rather than a full-length role. Small screen time, big consequences: insiders say her arc drops a plot twist that sets up something much bigger for her in Tumbbad 3. So this isn’t a cameo for the sake of a marquee name on the poster, it sounds more like the franchise is planting a seed early.
Why Bhatt signed on
She didn’t hide her excitement. Talking to Bombay Times, Bhatt said the original 2018 film stuck with her long after she first saw it. “Tumbbad has stayed with me ever since I first watched it,” she said. “Very few films create a world that feels this original and immersive, and even fewer continue to grow in people’s imagination years after they have released.” She added that stepping into that world feels special, and that working alongside Sohum Shah and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, two actors she’s admired for years, was a big part of the pull.
The bigger picture
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Tumbbad built a cult following on atmosphere and mythology more than star power, so adding Alia Bhatt and keeping Nawazuddin Siddiqui on board changes the calculation a bit. Fans online have already reacted like this is a franchise-defining moment, and honestly, it might be. Director Adesh Prasad is going deeper into the mythology of the cursed deity this time, with the stakes raised well past what the original film set up.
Sohum Shah Films is producing alongside Pen Studios, and the plan is a grand theatrical release, currently on the books for December 3, 2027.
