The fear of 'Rehman Dacoit' was seen in Dhurandhar, now will Akshay Khanna become a dangerous villain in Tumbbad 2?

Ever since actor-producer Sohum Shah officially joined forces with producer Dr. Jayantilal Gada's Pen Studios, excitement surrounding 'Tumbbad 2' has been rife. With the sequel backed by a production house known for producing big-name films like RRR and Gangubai Kathiawadi, trade circles are touting it as one of the biggest projects currently being made.

Tumbbad: From a Sleeper Hit to a Cult Phenomenon

Released in 2018, 'Tumbbad' gradually transformed from a sleeper hit to a worldwide cult phenomenon. Its re-release in 2024 further cemented its legacy, introducing a new generation of audiences to its disturbing exploration of greed, mythology, and psychological horror. Now, as the sequel is set to go on floors early this year, the makers are reportedly aiming to expand the film's dark and immersive universe in an even bigger way.

Akshaye Khanna or Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the villain?

Amidst the growing anticipation, there's renewed buzz in the industry that the sequel's villain could be a major casting change. According to a source close to the development, "A strong villain is central to the story of 'Tumbbad 2'. The team wants to enhance the sequel with a layered and compelling negative lead. Akshaye Khanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are two names currently being discussed."

The source further added, "The idea is to bring in a villain who is not only dangerous but also deeply layered, someone who can match Soham's character in terms of intensity and depth."

Both actors have a strong grasp of dark characters.

Both actors are known for bringing gravitas and psychological nuance to their roles. Akshaye Khanna's recent performance has demonstrated his command of serious characters, while Nawazuddin Siddiqui has long been known for portraying dark characters with tremendous verisimilitude.

While an official casting announcement is still awaited, the mere mention of Akshaye and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's names has generated excitement. If either Akshaye Khanna or Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the villain, Tumbbad 2 could offer a riveting confrontation involving psychological complexity and mythic intensity.

Tumbbad was released in 2018 and was a sleeper hit at the time, but later received widespread public and critical acclaim. Its re-release in 2024 brought it even greater recognition. Sohum Shah plays the lead role in the film, and he also produced it. The horror fantasy is directed by Rahi Anil Barve. It collected around ₹15 crore at the box office in its first release and ₹38 crore in its re-release.