Aanand L Rai reveals why he chose not to be part of 'Tumbbad 2': 'Wo kahani jitni khoobsurat hoke wahaan pahuchi hui thi, main uske aage nahi jana chahta tha'
ETimes | July 29, 2026 3:39 PM CST
Filmmaker Aanand L Rai has finally addressed why he is not associated with the upcoming sequel to cult horror film 'Tumbbad'. While he backed the original project, Rai has revealed that creative considerations prompted him to stay away from the next chapter. 'Tumbbad', which found a loyal fanbase years after its initial release and turned into a major success during its theatrical re-release last year, is now gearing up for a new installment. The upcoming film, featuring Alia Bhatt and Nawazuddin Siddiqui , is scheduled to hit theatres on December 3, 2027. However, unlike the first film, Rai's name does not feature among the producers.
Why Aanand L Rai chose not to continueSpeaking to Hindustan Times about his absence from the project, Rai said the decision was entirely driven by creative reasons.
“For some reason nahin, aur wo creative reasons hain. What you want is a certain kind of freedom to make decisions when you are creating something. 'Tumbbad' is a fantastic film but I felt like mere liye, wo kahani jitni khoobsurat hoke wahaan pahuchi hui thi, main uske aage nahin jana chah raha tha. But all the best to the team who is making it now. They will make a great film but I keep the decision to myself what film I want to join.”
(I'm not associated with it for certain reasons, and those are creative reasons. When you're creating something, you want a certain kind of freedom to make your own decisions. 'Tumbbad' is a fantastic film, but I felt that, for me, the story had reached such a beautiful conclusion that I didn't want to take it any further. I wish the very best to the team making it now. I'm sure they will make a great film, but I prefer to decide for myself which projects I want to be a part of.)
The director emphasised that while he believes the new team will deliver a strong film, he personally did not wish to extend the story beyond where he felt it had reached.
National Award recognition brings confidenceRai is currently celebrating his National Award win for the documentary ' Statue Of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek ', for which he received the Best Director honour in the non-feature film category. Despite the prestigious recognition, he insists awards have never been the driving force behind his work.
Reflecting on the achievement, he said:
“Mujhe mere hisse ka pyaar mil jata hai. Awards and rewards sar aankhon par, but it’s the love and being a vessel of a poignant story is what it’s all about for me. This kind of an award gives you confidence that your existence matters.”
( I receive all the love I could ask for. Awards and recognitions are always welcome and deeply respected, but for me, it's the love from people and the opportunity to tell a meaningful story that truly matter. An award like this gives you the confidence that your work and your existence have real significance.)
According to Rai, audience appreciation continues to matter more than trophies, though such honours reinforce his belief that meaningful storytelling leaves a lasting impact.
Next directorial and passion for documentaries
The filmmaker also shared an update on his future plans, revealing that he expects to begin work on his next directorial venture in 2027. If everything goes according to schedule, the film is likely to arrive in cinemas towards the end of 2027 or sometime in 2028.
Rai also admitted that his National Award has inspired him to explore more projects in the documentary space.
“We need to learn more in the non-feature category. It’s a different form of storytelling and the filmmakers in our industry need to learn a lot more when it comes to this form, and we are doing good. In the coming years, we will have some amazing documentaries come out and it’s important for any country as it explains its foundation and contributes to its history.”
He concluded by expressing hope that documentary filmmaking in India will continue to evolve, allowing more stories that preserve the country's history and cultural identity to reach audiences.
Why Aanand L Rai chose not to continueSpeaking to Hindustan Times about his absence from the project, Rai said the decision was entirely driven by creative reasons.
“For some reason nahin, aur wo creative reasons hain. What you want is a certain kind of freedom to make decisions when you are creating something. 'Tumbbad' is a fantastic film but I felt like mere liye, wo kahani jitni khoobsurat hoke wahaan pahuchi hui thi, main uske aage nahin jana chah raha tha. But all the best to the team who is making it now. They will make a great film but I keep the decision to myself what film I want to join.”
(I'm not associated with it for certain reasons, and those are creative reasons. When you're creating something, you want a certain kind of freedom to make your own decisions. 'Tumbbad' is a fantastic film, but I felt that, for me, the story had reached such a beautiful conclusion that I didn't want to take it any further. I wish the very best to the team making it now. I'm sure they will make a great film, but I prefer to decide for myself which projects I want to be a part of.)
The director emphasised that while he believes the new team will deliver a strong film, he personally did not wish to extend the story beyond where he felt it had reached.
National Award recognition brings confidenceRai is currently celebrating his National Award win for the documentary ' Statue Of Unity: Ekta Ka Prateek ', for which he received the Best Director honour in the non-feature film category. Despite the prestigious recognition, he insists awards have never been the driving force behind his work.
Reflecting on the achievement, he said:
“Mujhe mere hisse ka pyaar mil jata hai. Awards and rewards sar aankhon par, but it’s the love and being a vessel of a poignant story is what it’s all about for me. This kind of an award gives you confidence that your existence matters.”
( I receive all the love I could ask for. Awards and recognitions are always welcome and deeply respected, but for me, it's the love from people and the opportunity to tell a meaningful story that truly matter. An award like this gives you the confidence that your work and your existence have real significance.)
According to Rai, audience appreciation continues to matter more than trophies, though such honours reinforce his belief that meaningful storytelling leaves a lasting impact.
Next directorial and passion for documentaries
The filmmaker also shared an update on his future plans, revealing that he expects to begin work on his next directorial venture in 2027. If everything goes according to schedule, the film is likely to arrive in cinemas towards the end of 2027 or sometime in 2028.
Rai also admitted that his National Award has inspired him to explore more projects in the documentary space.
“We need to learn more in the non-feature category. It’s a different form of storytelling and the filmmakers in our industry need to learn a lot more when it comes to this form, and we are doing good. In the coming years, we will have some amazing documentaries come out and it’s important for any country as it explains its foundation and contributes to its history.”
He concluded by expressing hope that documentary filmmaking in India will continue to evolve, allowing more stories that preserve the country's history and cultural identity to reach audiences.
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