Why Did Tumbbad Take So Long to Be Made? Here’s What Happened Behind the Scenes

When Tumbbad released in 2018, many viewers were surprised by the film’s world, visuals and storytelling. But what many don’t know is that the film took around six years to complete after filming began and nearly two decades of development before it finally reached theatres.

Here’s why the making of Tumbbad took much longer than most films.

The Film Was Planned Years Before It Went on Floors

The idea for Tumbbad had been in development for many years. Writer Mitesh Shah and director Rahi Anil Barve worked on the story for a long time before filming started. The film drew inspiration from Maharashtrian folklore and stories written by Marathi horror writer Narayan Dharap, while creating an original fictional world around the forgotten deity Hastar.

Since Indian cinema had rarely explored horror and mythology in this way, the makers spent a long time developing the screenplay.

The Makers Waited for Real Monsoons

One of the biggest reasons behind the delay was the weather.

Instead of creating rain using artificial equipment, the team chose to shoot during real monsoons. Much of the film was shot across villages in Maharashtra’s Konkan region, where the makers wanted the surroundings to look naturally wet, muddy and aged.

Because they depended on seasonal rainfall, filming happened across multiple monsoon seasons, making the schedule much longer than a regular production.

Large Parts of the Film Were Shot Again

The first version of the film was shot around 2012. However, after watching the edit, producer and lead actor Sohum Shah felt the film wasn’t working the way the team had imagined.

Instead of releasing it, the makers decided to rewrite several portions of the screenplay and shoot many scenes again.

These reshoots continued over the next few years, increasing both the production time and the budget.

Every Detail Was Planned Carefully

The makers paid close attention to the film’s production design, costumes and locations.

The village of Tumbbad was designed to look like a place where time had almost stopped. The old houses, muddy roads, constant rain and dim lighting were all planned to support the story.

The creature Hastar was also created through a mix of prosthetics, practical effects and visual effects instead of depending only on computer graphics.

It Became the First Indian Film to Open Venice Critics’ Week

Before releasing in India, Tumbbad had its world premiere at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in 2018.

It became the first Indian film to be screened at Venice Critics’ Week, introducing the film to international audiences before its theatrical release.

The Box Office Story Changed Years Later

When Tumbbad first released in October 2018, it received positive reviews but earned only around Rs 13–15 crore worldwide, close to its reported production cost.

Over the next few years, the film found a much bigger audience through streaming platforms and word of mouth.

When it returned to theatres in 2024, the response was completely different. The re-release collected more than Rs 38 crore worldwide, making it one of the biggest re-releases for an Indian film and leading to the official announcement of Tumbbad 2.

A Film That Took Time Before and After Release

Tumbbad took years to make because the filmmakers chose to wait for real monsoons, rewrote the script after the first edit, reshot several portions and spent time building a world that looked believable on screen.

Its journey didn’t end with its 2018 release. The film found a larger audience years later, proving that some stories take time not only to make, but also to be discovered.