Character count

What does it take to steal the show? Actors who've been playing supporting roles that almost outshone the main story explain how they won us over

- Karishma Kuenzang

Tillotama Shome as Meera in Tooth Pari: When Love Bites (2023)

As Meera, an 18th century vampire who was a consultant to history's bigwigs, Tillotama Shome is memorable enough to be immortal. Viewers are supposed to be rooting for the rebellious vampire Rumi (Tanya Maniktala), but they can't help but cheer the funnier Meera on. Shome, 44, has been playing little roles here, there and everywhere since she landed the part of Alice, the house-help, in Monsoon Wedding in 2001. "It's the shine that comes from sweating it out for years," she jokes.

Being on the fringes of fame and building up a career bit by bit is tough, she says. Gigs are few and far between, so actors pour their lives into each role they get. For Shome, the size of the role has rarely mattered. "I wanted the most interesting part, the one that leaves you wanting more," she says. "Of course, it would be great to play a lead, but that comes along less often. I've waited long enough."

For Tooth Pari, Shome worked on her Urdu. She took kathak lessons. Over two decades of stellar sporadic acting has taught her that no one is insignificant - both in life and on screen. "If I don't believe that, I will let others make me feel small or make the mistake of looking down on someone. It's the same with a role. Sometimes a writer is lazy with the smaller parts and I've gone with pages of suggestions to flesh out my contribution to the scene. I value myself, even if they don't."