Speaking in an in-depth conversation with Variety India, Shah addressed the prolonged five-year scriptwriting journey and promised that the next installment will expand the dark universe beyond familiar lore. Directed by Adesh Prasad (co-director on the 2018 original), the sequel is currently in production and slated to arrive in cinemas on December 3, 2027, under the ominous tagline "Pralay Aayega" (The Apocalypse Will Come).
"Simmer on a Low Flame": Why the Script Took Five Years
Explaining the long gap between installments, Shah emphasized that a sequel to a cult property could not be rushed purely to capitalize on commercial goodwill:
“I believe writing needs time. It should simmer on a low flame. It took me a long time to crack this idea. You can find a story quite easily, but turning it into a screenplay takes a lot of time.
I didn't want to make a sequel just because Tumbbad received so much love. I needed to feel like I was making a different film—excited by the thought that I was creating something new, something different, and something unconventional. It took me five years to write Tumbbad 2, and that time was very important to me.”
Shah cautioned that fans expecting a straightforward rehash of the demon Hastar and the rain-drenched wada will be caught off guard:
“They can expect to see something new and unpredictable. When Tumbbad came out, I told people they would see something new. The same goes for Tumbbad 2. You may think you know this world, but it will surprise you. That is the one thing I can say.”
Alia Bhatt Signed in "Just Two Meetings"
The sequel created massive trade momentum following the announcement of Alia Bhatt and Nawazuddin Siddiqui joining the ensemble alongside Shah:
The Pitch & Quick Decision: Shah revealed that getting Bhatt on board was one of the quickest casting closures of his career. After a single narration where she asked incisive questions, Bhatt read the screenplay over two days and signed during their second meeting.
Not Just a Cosmetic Cameo: Dismissing speculation that Bhatt’s casting was purely for commercial star power, Shah noted: “She is very sharp. As good an artiste as she is, her business sense is equally good. Alia’s character contributes a lot to it. It is very correct casting. When people watch the film, they will understand why it is such a good casting choice.”
Nawazuddin’s Edge: Teaming up with Nawazuddin Siddiqui adds acting grit to the moral and supernatural tensions that drive the narrative forward.
Trade Take:
Sequels to slow-burn cult classics often struggle when producers rush development to monetize late-blooming hype. By taking five years to finish the script, retaining co-director Adesh Prasad to preserve visual language, and securing heavyweight collaborators like Alia Bhatt and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sohum Shah is positioning Tumbbad 2 not merely as a horror follow-up, but as a major cinematic tentpole for late 2027.
