This actress learnt acting from New York’s high-security jail, spent two years among prisoners, said ‘I became a psycho…’

Known for her versatile performances, this actress has gone beyond traditional acting techniques to portray some of the most complex roles in cinema.

There are several actors who like method acting and go to great lengths to understand their characters, sometimes immersing themselves in situations that are intense and often dangerous. Today, we will discuss one such actress whose dedication to her craft led her to a very unconventional road – Tillotama Shome. Known for her versatile performances, the actress has gone beyond traditional acting techniques to portray some of the most complex roles in cinema.

Tillotama Shome’s Journey into Acting

Tillotama Shome, who rose to fame with Monsoon Wedding in 2001, has had a diverse career that spans film and television. In a recent conversation, she revealed that she never underwent formal acting training like most of her co-actors. Instead, she wanted to understand human psychology and complexity through an unusual means. For which, she spent two years working with prisoners at the notorious Rikers Island Jail in New York.

She said, “I did not have any kind of training. I came with a completely clean slate. I have not gone to NSD or FTI like other artists. I worked in New York’s Riker Island Jail. It is a high-security jail for men and women. There, I worked with a female prisoner and a male prisoner for two years and to be honest, that’s where I got my acting training. I was there with students as well as prisoners at the same time. There I was able to understand not only crime but also human complexities. As long as I was working there, that world was very different for me, but when I came to Mumbai from there and started giving auditions, I had matured a lot as a person. I spent two years there observing people. Many questions arose in my mind what circumstances must have brought these people to this jail? This is the reason that when I became a psycho killer in Delhi Crime, I was able to understand the mentality of the character.”

Tillotama Shome’s Diverse Career

Since her debut, Tillotama Shome has taken on a wide variety of roles. From Monsoon Wedding to Sir, A Death in the Gunj, and Delhi Crimeshe has showcased her incredible range. She has also been part of acclaimed projects like Paatal Lok, The Night Manager, and Lust Stories 2. Married to Kunal Ross, the nephew of Jaya Bachchan, Tillotama Shome is well-connected in the industry but has carved her own path.