Bhasha Sumbli is an actress and assistant director who has worked on films such as Chhapaak (2020) and The Kashmir Files (2022). She was in the news because of her superb performance in The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri.
Standing tall among the veteran cast members of ‘The Kashmir Files‘ is a face that few people have heard of.
Bhasha Sumbli Wiki/Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bhasha Sumbli (sometimes spelled Bhasha Sumbali) |
| Date of Birth | 1988 (exact date unavailable; estimated based on childhood exile in 1990) |
| Place of Birth | Sumbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Age | Approximately 37 years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Kashmiri Pandit |
| Zodiac Sign | Unknown (due to unclear birth date) |
| Height | Around 5’4″ (163 cm, estimated from appearances) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Father | Agnishekhar Pandit (Hindi poet, author, activist) |
| Mother | Kshama Kaul (Kashmiri author, poet) |
| Siblings | No public info on siblings |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Sunil Soni (details scarce) |
| Children | No confirmed details |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Hometown | Sumbal, Jammu and Kashmir (left in 1990) |
| Childhood Residence | Refugee camp in Delhi |
| Current Residence | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Education | Graduate of National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi |
| Early Schooling | Local school in Jammu (post-exodus) |
| Acting Training | Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares, Mumbai |
| Theatre Background | Trained under Kashmiri folk theatre stalwarts like Moti Lal Khemu |
| Profession | Actress, theatre artist, assistant director |
| Career Start | Early 2010s (theatre and TV) |
| Theatre Debut | Began writing plays at age 15 |
| TV Debut | Ek Tha Rusty (supporting role) |
| Film Debut | Chhapaak (2020) as villain’s sister |
| Breakthrough Role | Sharda Pandit in The Kashmir Files (2022) |
| Latest Film | Mandali (2023) |
| Upcoming Film | Baramulla (release TBD, 2025 speculated) |
| Languages Spoken | Hindi, Kashmiri, English |
| Acting Style | Emotional, raw, rooted in personal experience |
| Notable Role Inspiration | Sharda Pandit based on Girija Tickoo’s real-life tragedy |
| Directing Role | Assistant Director for Chhapaak (2020) |
| TV Shows | Mere Dad Ki Dulhan (supporting role) |
| Reality Show Mentor | India’s Best Dramebaaz Season 2 (2015) |
| Another Mentor Role | Sabse Bada Kalakar (2017) |
| Awards | Inlaks Theatre Award (2014) |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | Agnishekhar Pandit (Hindi poet, author, and activist) |
| Income Sources | Acting, theatre, directing, public speaking |
| Instagram Handle | @bhashasumbli |
| Instagram Followers | Over 5,000 (modest but growing) |
| Twitter Handle | @bhashasumbli |
| Twitter Followers | Over 2,000 |
| Social Media Activity | Shares film updates, personal reflections, Kashmiri Pandit advocacy |
| Famous Quote | “My refugee tent was made of the ‘secular fabric’ of this nation” (March 2022) |
| Exile Story | Fled Kashmir at 1.5 years old in mother’s arms (January 1990) |
| Family Migration | Moved to Delhi, later Jammu, due to Kashmiri Pandit exodus |
| Childhood Memory | Grew up hearing stories of Kashmir violence |
| Health Incident | Blood pressure dropped during Kashmir Files saw scene shoot |
| Public Speaking | Spoke at Mangalore Literary Festival (2024) |
| Session Topic | “Kashmir, Sharada and PoK” |
| Nepotism Critique | Said Bollywood prefers “dumber people” to isolate talent (July 2023) |
| Bollywood Struggle | Faced challenges as an outsider despite Kashmir Files success |
| Hobbies | Theatre writing, storytelling |
| Favorite Film (Own) | The Kashmir Files—calls it a lifelong role |
| Fan Nickname | “Sharda of Kashmir” |
| Public Persona | Deeply tied to her roots, family’s ancestral home lost in 1990 |
| Kashmir Connection | Deeply tied to her roots, her family’s ancestral home lost in 1990 |
| Literary Influence | Inherited artistic flair from parents |
| Theatre Plays | The film earned ₹400 crore; her role widely praised |
| Emotional Role | Sharda Pandit’s pain mirrors her family’s exile |
| Kashmir Files Impact | Some were published in national journals as teen |
| Audience Reaction | Moved viewers to tears with silent suffering in Kashmir Files |
| Co-Stars | Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty |
| Director | Vivek Agnihotri (mentor for Kashmir Files) |
| Producer Gratitude | Thanked Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Agnihotri for trusting her |
| Controversy | Kashmir Files called propaganda by some; she defends its truth |
| Social Media Post | Gifted award for Kashmir Files (September 2022) |
| Latest Appearance | Mangalore Literary Festival (October 2024) |
| Advocacy | Speaks on Kashmiri Pandit genocide |
| Personal Reflection | “This character will never leave me” (2022 interview) |
| Fitness Routine | No public details—assumed active for film roles |
| Fashion Sense | Simple, elegant—often in traditional attire |
| Travel | Visits literary and cultural events |
| Mentors | Moti Lal Khemu, Anupam Kher |
| Career Goal | More roles reflecting real stories |
| Cultural Ties | Proud of Kashmiri heritage |
| Acting Inspiration | Irrfan Khan—admires his outsider success |
| Film Count | 3 released (Chhapaak, Kashmir Files, Mandali) |
| Upcoming Work | Baramulla in production |
| Fan Base | Growing among Kashmir Files viewers |
| Media Coverage | Praised for soulful Sharda Pandit portrayal |
| Personal Loss | Uncle and aunt killed in Kashmir violence |
| Refugee Life | Lived in Delhi camp, then Jammu |
| Mother’s Tale | Fled Kashmir with Bhasha in her lap |
| Father’s Keepsake | Carried soil from Kashmir garden during exodus |
| Latest News | Planning new theatre project (2025 speculated) |
| Community Impact | Inspires Kashmiri youth in arts |
| Resilience | Overcame exile and industry challenges |
| Signature Scene | Saw scene in Kashmir Files—hauntingly silent |
| Viewer Sentiment | “Bhasha’s pain felt real” (fan comment, 2022) |
| Career Milestone | Kashmir Files—from theatre to Bollywood fame |
| Future Vision | Wants to direct a Kashmiri story |
| Legacy | Voice for Kashmiri Pandit struggles |
| Favorite Quote | “I still consider myself a refugee” (2022) |
| Current Focus | Balancing acting, advocacy, and theatre |
| Fun Fact | Loves connecting with fans at events |
Details and career
Although the person behind the persona of ‘Sharda Pandit’ is not a household name, Bhasha Sumbli has emerged as the face of the Kashmiri Pandits’ genocide as a result of his depiction of the figure.
Much like the eerie emotions on the poster of ‘Sharda Pandit,’ Bhasha’s involvement in the film shreds everyone’s psyche, Sharda is Pushkar Nath’s (Anupam Kher) daughter-in-law in the movie. She has very few sentences in the movie, but her emotional passages leave everyone stunned and are crucial to the plot.
Bhasha Sumbli plays the widow of telecom engineer B.K. Ganjoo, who was slain while hiding in a drum, and Sharda are forced to eat the blood-soaked rice, a true story that occurred in Srinagar’s Chhota Bazaar neighbourhood in March 1990.
In the film’s final scene, she plays Girija Tickoo, who was gang-raped and slashed with a carpenter’s saw.
Bhasha, a displaced Kashmiri Pandit who was last seen in ‘Chhapak’ and The Kasmir Files, grew up in a migrant camp in Delhi amid trauma and despair, where she witnessed people fighting for bread and blankets.
She began composing theatre plays at a young age, writing her first stage play at the age of 15. Some of her plays have been published in national journals.
While studying at the NSD, Bhasha Sumbli wrote a few pieces on historic and popular theatre forms that were published in the NSD magazine Rang Prasang.
The Kashmir Files
In an interview, Bhasha Sumbli stated, “I didn’t do anything. It was an inner representation of the pain I had grown up with. I didn’t do much to get Sharda out. I read and reread it, and it was still inside of me. We know the victims and their anguish, so I didn’t have to act; it came out spontaneously.”
Reliving the horrible massacre, according to Bhasha Sumbali, was highly traumatizing. Basha couldn’t deal with her emotions while filming one of the most heartbreaking parts of the film, having heard accounts about the departure of family members. After an incident on the sets, she had a panic attack and withdrew herself for three days.