I just want to act: Tillotama Shome

The vulnerable and innocent Alice, from Monsoon Wedding, is an instant recall but actor Tillotama Shome also has Shadows Of Time to her credit. While quite a few films have kept her busy since then, Alice is unforgettable.

“Though Monsoon Wedding released in 2002, people have just not forgotten Alice. It feels a little strange at times, considering a lot of water has flown below the bridge since then, but it calls for brownie points too,” she states.

A stint of studying acting at New York University was followed by teaching theatre to third degree murder convicts at a high security US prison and Tillotama returned to Mumbai in 2008 to realise her dreams once again.

“I have been working throughout. I play a nun in the Australian film, The Waiting City, Owais Hussain’s (son of MF Husain) untitled film in which I play a loud Punjabi siren, Italo Spinelli’s Gangaur, where I play an activist who speaks three dialects and drives a jeep, Turning 30 has me portray an urban, Bohemian artist, a tribal Kutchi widowed mother in Boond and a short film Clap, Clap,” she informs. 

From the list, it’s but evident that a lot of Tillotama’s work comes from outside. Quiz her on that and she says, “That just goes to show that it doesn’t matter if one’s a star or not — in fact, this allows me to live life on my own terms. How many people can do that?” While she gives New York all the credit of bringing out the versatility in her, the dusky lady from Kolkata also says, “Life has thrown open some wonderful opportunities and helped me reach a point where my identity is not based on what people perceive of me.” 

While she’s yet to be seen in a full blown Bollywood film, Tillotama explains, “I never told myself that there’s a particular industry I want to be part of. I just want to act. There are a lot of Indian filmmakers I want to work with and I’ve let them know the same. It’s just a matter of time.”