Tumbbad 2 Casting Coup: Akshaye Khanna to Clash with Sohum Shah? The Battle for the "Human" Villain Begins!

Wednesday, 18 February 2026 | Mumbai: The gate to the womb of the goddess is creaking open once again, and this time, the danger isn’t just lurking in the shadows; it is wearing a very human face. In a development that has absolutely electrified the trade circles this morning, massive whispers are coming out of the production camp of the highly anticipated horror sequel, Tumbbad 2.

If the latest buzz is to be believed, the makers are looking for a heavyweight performer to stand toe-to-toe with Sohum Shah’s iconic Vinayak, and two names have risen to the top of that list. We are hearing that the intense and brooding Akshaye Khanna is currently the frontrunner to play the primary human antagonist, with the raw and gritty Nawazuddin Siddiqui also being seriously considered for the part.

A New Kind of Monster for Tumbbad

This is not just casting news; this is a statement of intent. Tumbbad, which achieved cult status after its re-release in 2024 and proved to be a box-office disruptor, has always been about the horror of human greed rather than just jump scares. By targeting actors of this caliber, the production team is signaling that the sequel will double down on psychological warfare.

We all know Sohum Shah owns the world of Tumbbad. His portrayal of Vinayak was a masterclass in selfish desperation. But a hero—or in this case, an anti-hero—is only as good as his villain.

The sequel reportedly requires an antagonist who doesn’t just scare you with makeup but scares you with his eyes. That is where Akshaye Khanna enters the chat. Just imagine that signature smirk and that cold, calculating stare in the rain-soaked, gloomy aesthetic of Tumbbad. It is a match made in cinematic hell, and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Akshaye vs. Nawaz: The Clash of Styles

Why is this choice so difficult? Because both actors bring something completely different to the table. Akshaye Khanna is sophisticated evil. Think of his work in Race or Ittefaq. He has this ability to play a character who is smarter than everyone else in the room, someone who manipulates situations with silence.

In the period setting of Tumbbad 2, seeing him play a wealthy, greedy landlord or a rival treasure hunter would be pure cinema.

On the other hand, you have Nawazuddin Siddiqui. If Akshaye is the calm before the storm, Nawaz is the storm itself. His brand of villainy is unpredictable, earthy, and chaotic—remember Raman Raghav 2.0?

If the makers want a villain who feels like he crawled out of the same mud as Hastar, Nawaz is the guy. However, trade chatter suggests Akshaye has the edge right now because his casting offers a fresher dynamic against Sohum Shah. We have seen Nawaz in dark roles plenty of times. Akshaye in a folk-horror period drama?

That is fresh. That is exciting. (According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, sources close to the production have hinted that initial talks with Akshaye Khanna have moved to an advanced stage, though no dotted line has been signed yet).

Why a “Human” Villain Matters

This casting update gives us a massive clue about the plot of Tumbbad 2. The first movie was Man vs. Monster (and Man vs. Greed). If they are casting a high-profile “Human Antagonist,” it implies that the conflict in the sequel will be Man vs. Man, with the curse of Hastar acting as the backdrop.

It makes sense. The lore of Tumbbad is established. We know the rules of the gold coins and the flour dough figures. We don’t need another movie explaining that. What we need is escalation.

A rival. Someone who wants the gold just as badly as Vinayak’s descendants, or perhaps someone who wants to unleash something even worse. Bringing in a star like Akshaye Khanna ensures that the human drama is just as heavy as the VFX set pieces. It elevates the project from a “horror sequel” to a “character drama.”

The Pressure of Legacy

Let’s be honest, the pressure here is insane. The first Tumbbad took six years to make. It was a labor of love that nearly bankrupted everyone involved before it became a legend. The sequel doesn’t have the luxury of being an underdog. It is an event film. Fans are protective of this franchise. They don’t want a typical Bollywood villain who gives long monologues. They want atmosphere. They want dread.

This is why the casting of the antagonist is the most crucial decision Sohum Shah and his team will make. If they get this wrong, the movie risks becoming a generic creature feature. But if they get it right—if they get Akshaye Khanna to channel that dark, intense energy—we could be looking at the best horror performance of the decade. The shooting is expected to ramp up later this year, and an official announcement could drop any day now. Until then, the speculation alone is enough to keep the hype train moving at full speed.

This is brilliant news. Casting Akshaye Khanna would be a masterstroke because he rarely does horror, and his “less is more” acting style fits the atmospheric tension of Tumbbad perfectly. Nawaz is great, but we have seen him do “gritty” too often. Akshaye brings a sophistication to the greed that would contrast beautifully with the rustic setting. I’m betting on Akshaye.
My Take

Original Source: Breaking story first reported by the casting desk at Bollywood Hungama.

Question For You: Who do you think would make a scarier villain in the Tumbbad universe—the sophisticated Akshaye Khanna or the chaotic Nawazuddin Siddiqui? Drop your choice in the comments!