Tillotama Shome: In My Career Of 20 Years I Got Very Little Work But Didn't Give Up

Tillotama Shome made her debut with Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding' (2001). If we look at her career graph, she didn't do much work but whatever she did, she shone. Though the actress got more recognition on the global map for her independent films like 'Qissa' and 'Raahgir - The Wayfarers' among others, it was not easy for her to get the same attention or recognition in her own country, India. Yet, it didn't let her down and she kept on working. Shome considers OTT platforms a boon for actors like her as with these platforms her work is able to reach homes. From 'Sir', 'Delhi Crime Season 2' to now 'The Night Manager' and 'Lust Stories 2', Tillotama has now become the 'queen' of OTT. In the last two years, she has earned not only appreciation for her terrific work but also bagged lots of awards.

In an interview with Outlook, Tillotama reflected on her journey of 20 years and how it has been fulfilling for her. She said she feels very reassured that in these years she didn't give up though she got very little work.

She added, "There were so many people in my family, my husband, friends, and directors who kept the fire burning for me. If they had not...I got very little work but the work I got kept me alive not just financially paying my bills but emotionally keeping me alive that I still have it in me. I still have a lot more that I want to express creatively and want to grow. I am very grateful for the people who collaborated with me and gave me that support in these 20 years and allowed me to enjoy these last two years where I have had so much work. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them".

The 'A Death In The Gunj' actress also opened up on how the OTT platforms are opening doors for not only actors like her but also for writers. She added, "The kind of films that I did earlier in those 20 years, very few of them had any kind of distribution. Their distribution was very limited and there were limited theatrical releases. So, the work didn't reach the audience. But with the OTT platforms, the work is able to reach homes. They may not have time or afford to go to theatres or international film festivals. How many people can? OTT has definitely made a massive change in actors like us being able to get work."

"Another factor for me is that the kind of writers that are coming into the industry now are not necessarily writers from film backgrounds. They are writers from diverse backgrounds and they are telling stories that are very unique to their upbringing and their social milieu. And because the stories have become diverse, writers have become diverse, they need different kinds of actors to now tell those stories which is why actors like us started getting chances. So, I feel if our industry focuses on nurturing the writers all of us will benefit from it, and as actors, we will also benefit from it," said Shome.