Actor and filmmaker Sohum Shah has been revisiting several Hollywood classics and discovering new details about their filmmaking. His recent watches include ‘Jurassic Park’, ‘Terminator’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’. He has been particularly impressed by the visual effects in these productions. Their technical achievements stand out even more when viewed against the technology available during their original production.In a conversation with Variety, Shah spoke about how his relationship with international cinema has evolved. He admitted that Hollywood films were not a regular part of his early movie-watching experience. During that period, he had watched only a few international titles, all in Hindi-dubbed versions.“I am a very desi person. During my time, I had watched only four films, and even those were Hindi-dubbed — “Titanic,” “Jurassic Park,” “Speed” and “True Lies.” I didn’t have a very deep relationship with cinema,” he said.
Sohum Shah revisits ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Terminator’
Sohum Shah’s perspective on international cinema has changed as he has become more involved in acting, writing and filmmaking. Watching older Hollywood productions has helped him appreciate the creative decisions behind their visual effects. He was especially fascinated by the scale of the sequences created in films from the late 1990s and early 2000s.The actor recently watched ‘The Lord of the Rings’ again and was struck by the quality of its visual effects. He also revisited ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Terminator’. These experiences reminded him of the technical ambition behind some of Hollywood’s most memorable productions.“I also recently watched ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and was mesmerised by the fact that they managed to create such incredible VFX back in 2000. There are so many massive sequences in those films! I revisited “Jurassic Park” and “Terminator.” It was so much fun to see the kind of work people were doing with VFX in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Those films did some amazing work,” he said.
Sohum Shah explains why filmmakers should watch more cinema
For Sohum Shah, watching films is not limited to entertainment. He considers it an important part of the creative process, particularly when developing stories and working on new projects. Exploring cinema from different countries also helps filmmakers discover ideas beyond their usual influences.He believes writers and directors cannot afford to restrict their viewing habits to familiar styles. Exposure to different narratives and filmmaking approaches can offer fresh perspectives. Shah also watches content regularly to support his writing process.“You have to watch films when you’re making something like this. I watch a lot of content for writing as well. You can’t just remain in your own bubble. You have to watch things because you need to find inspiration from somewhere,” Sohum Shah said.
Sohum Shah names James Cameron as filmmaker he would like to meet
When asked which filmmaker’s set he would most like to visit if he could travel back in time, Shah chose James Cameron. The actor expressed admiration for Cameron’s work, particularly the ‘Terminator’ franchise. He described the first film as fantastic.Shah did not choose between the first two instalments of ‘Terminator’. Instead, he expressed interest in visiting the sets of both films. He would also like to witness the making of ‘Jurassic Park’ and Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’.‘Jurassic Park’ brought dinosaurs to life through a combination of practical effects and computer-generated imagery. Meanwhile, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ created an expansive fantasy world through ambitious visual effects and production techniques.
‘Tumbbad 2 ‘ release date: Sohum Shah returns with horror-fantasy sequel
Meanwhile, Sohum Shah is preparing for ‘Tumbbad 2’, the sequel to his 2018 horror-fantasy film ‘Tumbbad’. The upcoming project is also associated with the title ‘PralayAayega’. It is scheduled to release in theatres on December 3, 2027.The sequel marks Shah’s return to the world of ‘Tumbbad’, which developed a strong following after its original release.
