Actor Tillotama Shome has opened up about her experience portraying an Assamese police officer in Paatal Lok 2, a role that required careful consideration and sensitivity. Speaking in an interview with India Today, Shome explained the importance of representing the Northeast accurately, particularly given the region’s underrepresentation in Indian films and shows.
The Challenge of Representing Assam
Tillotama, who hails from Bengal, played Meghna Barua, a Nagamese-speaking Assamese woman, in the second season of Paatal Lok. She expressed her concerns about playing a character from a region that has often been misrepresented in the media. “As a Bengali, I was really concerned about portraying an Assamese character,” she admitted. “You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel like, ‘Couldn’t they get an Assamese person for this role?'”
Her awareness of the potential for criticism pushed her to work diligently on perfecting the role. Shome stressed the importance of humanizing the character so that even if there were small mistakes in her portrayal—whether with language or mannerisms—audiences would feel the portrayal was authentic and genuine. “The Northeast is underrepresented and often misrepresented, and I didn’t want to contribute to that by not getting the language right or failing to depict the character authentically,” she added.
The Significance of Paatal Lok 2
The second season of Paatal Lok, a crime thriller that delves deep into the complexities of India’s criminal underworld, continues to feature a strong cast, including Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Gul Panag, and Nagesh Kukunoor. The show is helmed by director Avinash Arun Dhaware and produced by Clean Slate Filmz in collaboration with Eunoia Films. The eight-episode season is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Shome’s portrayal of Meghna Barua is a significant addition to the show, highlighting the diverse, complex characters that have made Paatal Lok so widely acclaimed. The show continues to receive praise for its gripping narrative and its portrayal of socio-political issues through deeply layered characters.
Upcoming Film Baksho Bondi
In addition to Paatal Lok 2, Tillotama Shome has an exciting new project lined up: Baksho Bondi, an international co-production. Directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, the film, titled Shadowbox in English, will see Shome in a pivotal role. The project is a collaboration between India, France, the US, and Spain.
Baksho Bondi also stars Chandan Bisht, Sayan Karmakar, and Suman Saha in important roles. Naren Chandavarkar, Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann, and Saumyananda Sahi produced the film, while Vikramaditya Motwane, Jim Sarbh, and Nikkhil Advani served as executive producers.
Tillotama Shome’s work in Paatal Lok 2 and her commitment to authentic representation highlight her versatility as an actor and her dedication to her craft. By taking on roles that require deep cultural understanding and sensitivity, she is pushing boundaries in an industry that is slowly learning to give more space to nuanced, diverse voices. Fans of her work can look forward to her upcoming projects, including Baksho Bondi, where her skills as an actor will continue to shine on the global stage.
