Tillotama Shome

Biography:

Tillotama Shome is an acclaimed Indian actress, known for her compelling performances in various independent films. Her portrayal of Ratna, a housemaid, in the film “Sir,” earned her the prestigious Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress at the 66th Filmfare Awards in 2021.

Shome’s journey into acting began after attending Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, where she became involved with Arvind Gaur’s Asmita theatre group. She later pursued a master’s program in educational theatre at New York University. Eventually, she moved to Mumbai in 2008 after completing notable projects in New York.

Her cinematic debut came with Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding,” followed by diverse roles in films like “Shadows of Time,” “The Waiting City,” and “Gangor.” She garnered praise for her performance as Mrs. Ahmadi in Dibakar Banerjee’s “Shanghai,” with Rediff describing it as “heartbreaking.”

Shome’s versatility shines through in roles like Lara in “Little Box of Sweets,” Jaya in “Long After,” and Miraal in “Butterfly.” Her standout performance as a girl raised as a boy in “Qissa” earned her the Best Actress title at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Born on June 25, 1979, in Kolkata to Anupam and Baisakhi Shome, Tillotama Shome grew up across India due to her father’s service in the Indian Air Force. She is married to Kunal Ross, the nephew of Jaya Bachchan, connecting her to the Bachchan family.