Tillotama Shome (born 25 June 1979) is an Indian actress. Known for her work in several independent film productions. In 2021, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for portraying a praiseworthy role of a house maid in the film Sir at the 66th Filmfare Awards.

Early life

Shome was born in Kolkata to Anupam and Baisakhi Shome. Shome grew up all over India since her father was with the Indian Air Force.

Career

Shome went to Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College and joined Arvind Gaur's Asmita theatre group. She moved to New York in the autumn of 2004 for a master's program in educational theatre at New York University, where she remained until visiting Mumbai on holiday in February 2008. Thereafter, she took up residence in Mumbai and after completing some outstanding projects in New York, she returned to India in May 2008. In New York, she also taught theatre to murder convicts at a high security US prison. She made her film debut as Alice in Mira Nair's feature film ''Monsoon Wedding'', She made her film debut as Alice in Mira Nair's feature film ''Monsoon Wedding'', and played Deepa in ''Shadows of Time'' (''Schatten der Zeit''), directed by Florian Gallenberger. She played a nun in the Australian film ''The Waiting City'' by Claire McCarthy. Italo Spinelli's ''Gangor'', based on Mahashweta Devi's novel, had her play a social worker. She also worked in Qaushiq Mukherjee's ''Tasher Desh''. She played Mrs. Ahmadi in the Hindi political thriller film ''Shanghai'' directed by Dibakar Banerjee. About her performance in ''Shanghai'' Rediff wrote "Shome created one of this year's most heartbreaking performances in a Hindi film".Her other roles have included Lara in ''Little Box of Sweets'' (directed by Meneka Das), Jaya in ''Long After'' (short film, directed by Afia Nathaniel) and Miraal in ''Butterfly'' (directed by Tanuj Chopra).Her performance as a girl who is raised as a boy in ''Qissa'' won her the best actress title in the New Horizons Competition of the seventh Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF). She shared the title with Norwegian actress Julia Wildschutt. Jaya in ''Long After'' (short film, directed by Afia Nathaniel) and Miraal in ''Butterfly'' (directed by Tanuj Chopra).Her performance as a girl who is raised as a boy in ''Qissa'' won her the best actress title in the New Horizons Competition of the seventh Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF). She shared the title with Norwegian actress Julia Wildschutt.

Personal Life

Shome is married to Kunal Ross, the nephew of Jaya Bachchan, thus making her the niece-in-law of Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan.