The world of Tumbbad is getting a compelling new addition. Alia Bhatt has joined Tumbbad 2 for a special appearance, with the sequel moving into a new shoot schedule this May. For a franchise that has guarded its mythology closely, bringing Bhatt into the fold instantly sharpens curiosity around how the makers plan to widen this haunting cinematic universe.
That curiosity comes from the stature of Tumbbad itself. The 2018 original, led by Sohum Shah, built a formidable reputation over the years for its singular blend of folklore, dread, and visual richness. It did not arrive as a conventional horror film, and its afterlife as a cult favourite has made the sequel one of the more closely followed genre projects in Hindi cinema.
Alia Bhatt Adds Fresh Star Power To Tumbbad 2
Bhatt’s special appearance is the latest confirmed development on a sequel that has been steadily building scale. Tumbbad 2 is being directed by Adesh Prasad, while Sohum Shah returns as the key creative force behind the project under Sohum Shah Films, with Pen Studios attached. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has also been confirmed in the cast, underlining the ambition behind this next chapter.
Director Adesh Prasad, in a statement shared by the makers earlier, said, “Taking this story forward has been both exciting and challenging, especially because the first film has such a strong identity. Our focus has been on retaining that soul while pushing the narrative and visual world further. We’re trying to create something that feels rooted in the original, but at the same time offers audiences a fresh and immersive experience.”
The sequel has already been dated for a 2027 theatrical release, making this May schedule an important step in a long-form rollout. While plot details remain under wraps, the film is being shaped as a deeper return to the unsettling folklore and greed-driven darkness that defined the first part.
The Cult Legacy That Made Tumbbad A Modern Horror Landmark
The original Tumbbad, directed by Rahi Anil Barve and released in 2018, starred Sohum Shah alongside Jyoti Malshe, Anita Date-Kelkar, Ronjini Chakraborty, Mohammad Samad, and Harsh K. It followed a man’s obsessive pursuit of hidden wealth tied to an ancient and terrifying curse. Over time, the film came to be seen as one of the most visually distinctive and atmospherically rich horror stories in modern Hindi cinema.
Bhatt’s entry into that eerie world also feels in step with the choices that have defined her recent screen run, where mainstream visibility and creatively ambitious projects have often gone hand in hand.
Alia Bhatt’s Current Career Momentum And Next Big Releases
In the past few years, Bhatt has moved with unusual ease between commercial scale and performance-led material. In 2024, she headlined and produced Jigra, continuing a phase of career choices that have given her a stronger hand in shaping the stories she fronts. Before that came Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and her Hollywood outing Heart of Stone in 2023, both expanding her reach in very different directions.
Her 2022 line-up remains one of the strongest stretches in her filmography, with Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR, Darlings on Netflix, and Brahmāstra: Part One: Shiva all arriving in the same year. Looking ahead, her slate remains equally high-profile, with Alpha in post-production and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War in the works, a sign that her place in prestige-led and event cinema remains firmly intact.
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