The actor, known for his work in The Kerala Story films, is seeing unexpected fame from his understated performance as Tomar in the Netflix thriller.
Sumit Gahlawat isn’t just another face in the crowd of new Indian thrillers. In Gajab Raat, his role as Tomar — a Delhi Police officer whose entire worldview revolves around his senior, Ajay Nirvit played by Manoj Bajpayee, has quietly become a cultural moment. A week after the film dropped on Netflix, Gahlawat is still processing the reaction: not just praise, but an avalanche of memes, fan art, and online commentary centered on his non-verbal performances.
"I am very overwhelmed by the amazing reactions," he told Bollywood Hungama in an exclusive interview. "It’s been one week since the release and (I am) still getting countless messages on social media. Specially, when people noticed small gestures where I am not even speaking any dialogues. That means a lot to me."
The internet has latched onto a specific emotional core: Tomar’s blind faith in Nirvit. One message stood out. "Best message I got was when someone said, ‘For Tomar, his senior Nirvit is his world’. Tomar doesn’t want to know what is right or wrong. He only knows that his senior is always right." That line, though not spoken in the film, became a viral mantra.
Gahlawat credits the authenticity of the bond to how he approached the role. He didn’t see Tomar as a cop first. "I had to think how Tomar is as a human, what is his thought process as an individual, etc. The cop part comes on at a very later stage."
His preparation relied heavily on listening, especially because Bajpayee improvised frequently. "I had to rely on the most basic and necessary thing – listen to your co-actor very actively... You have to react genuinely on what he is saying in the moment."
The nervousness before filming? Real. Gahlawat grew up idolizing Bajpayee, from Satya to Shool to Gangs of Wasseypur. "Honestly speaking, I was very nervous before the shoot as to how I am going to perform with the legend, what if I make a mistake and he has to give another take because of me. Many things were going on in my mind."
But the first day erased all doubt. "On the first day of the shoot itself when I shot my first scene with him, I realized how easy he is as a co-actor. He is so funny off camera. No serious attitude. I just went with flow with him and everyday was a day to remember for me."
This isn’t Gahlawat’s first time working with Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the director behind The Kerala Story and its sequel The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. He’s the only actor repeated across both films. He also starred in Shah’s Bastar: The Naxal Story. "Vipul sir is such a relaxed person and so supportive always. I don’t have to be formal in front of him anymore. That’s the ease I have with him now."
Now, he’s turning to his next challenge: Hassan MD, a show with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Dia Mirza. It’s set to release on JioHotstar in December. If the momentum from Gajab Raat holds, the quiet man from the police station might just become the loud voice of the season.
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