Tillotama Shome Opens Up on Working With Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna

• Tillotama Shome described Sunny Deol as “extremely shy,” warm and a generous co-star after working with him in Ikka.
• She said Akshaye Khanna remained in character throughout filming, leaving little opportunity for off-camera interaction.
• Shome revealed she initially believed the offer for Ikka was a prank call before confirming its authenticity.
• The actor rejected labels such as “independent” or “massy,” saying she chooses projects based on the strength of the material.
• Ikka, directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra, premiered on Netflix on July 10 and stars Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, Dia Mirza and Tillotama Shome.

Actor Tillotama Shome has shared new insights into working alongside Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna in Netflix’s courtroom drama Ikka, describing Deol as a quiet yet generous co-star and praising Khanna’s unwavering commitment to staying in character throughout filming.

Shome, who portrays public prosecutor Madhura Banerjee opposite Sunny Deol’s veteran defence lawyer Arjun Mehra, said the experience of sharing the screen with the senior actor was memorable. She described Deol as “extremely shy” and someone who avoids attention despite his long career and film legacy.

“He’s very quiet, but he’s very warm,”

Shome said in an interview with NDTV, adding that he made everyone around him feel comfortable. She also called him “a proper gentleman” in a separate interview, saying his calm and respectful nature stood out on set.

Sunny Deol’s generosity left a lasting impression

Recalling one moment during filming, Shome said Deol continued performing through a take even after a fly entered his eye because he did not want to interrupt her close-up. She said she was surprised by the decision, but Deol later explained that he believed the shot was going well and did not want to spoil it.

Shome said the incident reflected the generosity he brought to the set, particularly as an experienced actor working with fellow performers.

Akshaye Khanna stayed immersed in his character

Speaking about Akshaye Khanna’s working style, Shome said she rarely interacted with him outside the scenes because he remained emotionally connected to his character throughout production.

“Akshaye came to the set carrying the emotional energy of his character and remained in that zone throughout the shoot. I never really saw him outside that space,”

She said, noting that every actor has a different creative process and that Khanna’s quiet approach suited the demands of his role.

Initial disbelief over the film offer

Shome also revealed that she initially thought the call offering her Ikka was a prank. She said the project only felt real after she received a message from the film’s writer, whom she already knew.

Once convinced the offer was genuine, she approached Madhura Banerjee like any other role, focusing on understanding the character’s personal life, routine and motivations rather than treating the opportunity differently because of the film’s scale.

Rejecting labels as an actor

Addressing how audiences often categorise performers, Shome said she has never viewed herself as either an “independent cinema” actor or a “massy” star.

She explained that she has accepted and rejected projects based on factors such as the quality of the story, the character, ethical considerations and professional terms, rather than the label attached to a film. Shome added that actors she admires internationally have moved comfortably between different kinds of cinema, a path she also hopes to follow.

About Ikka

Directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra and produced by Alchemy Films, Ikka centres on celebrated lawyer Arjun Mehra, played by Sunny Deol, whose principles are tested when he defends his former rival Shauryamann Gaur, portrayed by Akshaye Khanna, in a high-profile attempted murder case. The film also stars Dia Mirza, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Shishir Sharma and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor.

Released on Netflix on July 10, the courtroom drama blends legal conflict with family relationships and moral dilemmas, with Shome’s Madhura Banerjee emerging as a determined prosecutor challenging one of the country’s most respected defence lawyers.