Sumit Gahlawat is stepping into one of his most layered performances yet in The Kerala Story 2 and the actor leaves no stone unturned in preparing for it. The recently released trailer has already struck a chord with the audiences. Reuniting with filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah and director Kamakhya Narayan Singh, Sumit describes the experience as creatively liberating and deeply collaborative. Having previously worked with Vipul Shah on The Kerala Story and Bastar, this marks their third collaboration but according to Sumit, this one feels the most evolved.
Reflecting on his first reading of the script, Sumit shares that he was instantly struck by the complexity of his character.
“When I first read the script, I understood that this character is extremely layered. With almost every scene, a new depth unfolds emotionally and psychologically. That progression is what drew me in, added Sumit.
To do justice to the character, there were 12–13 extensive prep sessions for the cast, all personally attended by Vipul Shah despite his hectic schedule.
“We had multiple detailed discussions, and what really stood out was Vipul Sir’s constant involvement. No matter how packed his calendar was, he ensured he was present in every session. That kind of dedication motivates you to raise your own bar.”
Sumit emphasizes that both Vipul Shah and Kamakhya Narayan Singh created a safe and open creative environment.
“This being our third collaboration, there was already trust. But this time, the comfort level was unmatched. Vipul Sir and Kamakhya Sir gave us complete freedom to express our creative instincts, he shared.
He recalls instances where his inputs led to major changes in scenes. He shared, “There were moments when I wanted to approach a scene from a completely different perspective. Vipul Sir not only listened patiently but was open to reshaping the scene entirely. In fact, some sequences evolved 360 degrees because of those conversations. He is extremely attentive and respectful towards his actors’ process.”
In The Kerala Story 2, Sumit portrays Salim, a character who transitions from protagonist to antagonist, demanding both emotional depth and psychological precision.
For Sumit, preparation meant immersing himself fully in the script.
“I strongly believe in reading the script multiple times before facing the camera. I must have gone through it more than 25 times. When a character shifts so dramatically, you need to internalize every nuance.”
With a powerful character arc, intense preparation, and the collaborative vision of Vipul Shah and Kamakhya Narayan Singh, Sumit Gahlawat’s portrayal of Salim in The Kerala Story 2 promises to leave a lasting impact with the trailer already garnering praises.
