Tillotama Shome is experiencing reverse migration. After making her debut with Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding in 2001, she went to New York to do a master’s program in educational theatre at New York University, where one of her assignments included teaching drama to high level convicts in a US prison. She somehow gravitated towards international projects, playing Deepa in Shadows of Time (2004), directed by Florian Gallenberger. She played a nun in the Australian film The Waiting City (2009) by Claire McCarthy. Italo Spinelli’s Gangor (2010), based on Mahashweta Devi’s novel, had her play a social worker. She also played an important character in The Letters (2014), directed by William Riead, which was about the life of Mother Teresa. Sir (2018), made the Indian audience take notice of her once more. She played a maid who has feelings for her employer but is acutely aware of the class difference which exists between them. Currently, she’s in the news for playing a high class woman who spies on her maid having sex in The Mirror, directed by Konkona Sen Sharma. She also plays a pregnant spy in the hit series, The Night Manager. Excerpts from an in depth interview with the reticent actress, who believes in making her work speak for herself.
Not many people get to boast about a debut with a Mira Nair film.
Coincidentally, The Mirror from Lust Stories and Sir both talk about class differences.
You’ve always been this niche actor; are you happy with the recognition you’ve received?
How much did you enjoy playing Lipika and her contribution to the storyline?
Are you more secure today?
I have had a few moments of glimmering strength in a sea of failures, complaints, doubts and loathing. But those few moments keep you going. I have to keep working on my Hindi. I am a very slow learner. I give into sadness very easily unless I work on something every day. I used to find it so hard to laugh aloud, but now I can. It takes me a long time to learn a song or dance and I am an awful mimic.